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The purpose of this study is to bring about an exhaustive measurement instrument of employee engagement and validate the same in Indian settings.

This descriptive and cross-sectional study initiates with reviewing the available literature in the field of employee engagement to identify factors affecting and the corresponding items defining them. Following the discussion with experts and industry professionals, an instrument was, thus, obtained to administer the primary data from employees working in public and private power companies in India. The study used Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) 3 to demonstrate employee engagement as a first-order reflective and second-order formative construct. Thereafter, reliability and convergent validity were assessed to validate the instrument.

This paper conceptualized employee engagement as a multi-factor construct (nine in numbers). The factors are “Respect”, “Supervisor's support and recognition”, “Growth and development”, “Creative and challenging job”, “Job significance”, “Perceived self-worth”, “performance evaluation and recognition” and “Organizational bureaucracy”. These factors are exhaustive and collectively define employee engagement. Distortion or omission in any of these items may distort the nature of construct as well.

Previous studies have defined the concept of employee engagement as unidimensional and thus observe serious lacunas. This study identified employee engagement as a multi-factor construct that incorporates the exhaustive nature of the organizational setting. Not only this study adds value to the existing body of knowledge in the field of employee engagement but also specify the measurement model as a formative one concerning employee engagement.

The main objectives of the present research were to: look at the strategic role‐played by the HR professionals at various stages of TQM implementation; identify precisely how do they operate as internal consultants; study the interface between HRD and other departments to support TQM; and uncover various human resources challenges associated with TQM implementation in the sample organization.

Data were collected both from the primary and secondary sources. The secondary data had been retrieved from the sources like the files, records, and documents, Annual Reports of the Company. Nevertheless, the analysis made is primarily based upon findings of the structured interview held with the senior executives of the HRD and Personnel Department, TQM‐ISO Cell, and other Supporting Departments, and trade unionist leaders.

The study finds out that the HR professionals helped out the top management in aligning HR and quality policies; formulating quality friendly policies, systems and procedures; crafting and communicating the TQM mission and vision; generating quality awareness among employees; get organized the organization as well as employees for TQM implementation; developing managerial support to quality action plans (QAPs); organizing quality workshops and TQM training programs; and shifting the conventional mind‐set of employees, etc. in the sample organization. They act as internal consultants to other departments in quality matters. Implementation of TQM in the company has engendered a number of HR challenges for instance, motivating knowledge workers, mobilizing key managerial personnel, obtaining employees satisfaction, overcoming communication barriers, resolving problems associated with PSU trappings and vastness of the organization, etc.

The study on its face appears to be limited as it is carried out in a single Indian organization, i.e. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited/Vishakhapatnam Steel Plant. Thus, its findings cannot be generalized.

The study prescribes certain HR strategies to strengthen the TQM‐HRM bondage in the company.

The findings are very useful from the standpoint of HR professionals.