Meaningful work and organizational outcomes: The mediating role of individual work performance

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore how employees’ meaningful work is associated with organizational outcomes at public Jordanian universities with the existence of individual work performance as a mediating variable.

Design/methodology/approach

The population of the study was 7,746 administrative staff working at four public Jordanian universities. Questionnaires were distributed to 576 participants. However, only 442 questionnaires were acceptable for further investigation, and these questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Several statistical data analysis techniques were used including exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, descriptive analysis and multiple regression. Moreover, Baron and Kenny’s approach was applied to test the hypotheses developed.

Findings

A new dimensionality of variables under investigation emerged at the purification stage using validity and reliability techniques. The findings of the study show that meaningful work has a positive relationship with organizational outcomes. The findings also indicate that individual work performance shows a partial mediating role in the link between meaningful work and organizational outcomes. In addition, the findings imply that any effort to improve individual work performance at public Jordanian universities can help in offering a better understanding of organizational outcomes.

Practical implications

This study recommends that universities focus more on meaningful work and individual work performance programs and practices.

Originality/value

This study provides a framework and understanding of how work meaning and individual work performance relates to organizational outcomes in one model.

Citation

Zeglat, D. and Janbeik, S. (2019), "Meaningful work and organizational outcomes: The mediating role of individual work performance", Management Research Review, Vol. 42 No. 7, pp. 859-878. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-05-2018-0206