scholarly journals Do High-Performance Work Systems Really Satisfy Employees? Evidence from China

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Po-Chien Chang ◽  
Ting Wu ◽  
Chen-Lin Liu

Our study aims to examine the outcomes of Western-based high-performance work systems (HPWS) from two separate workplace events (job discretion and work intensification) in a Chinese context. Based on Affective Events Theory (AET), employee reactions and job satisfaction may vary depending on their working environment. We applied hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to analyze data collected from 34 human resources managers and 354 employees working in the Chinese manufacturing and service industries. Our study demonstrates that workplace events based on HPWS may influence employees’ feelings and job satisfaction. Job discretion makes employees feel positive and increases their job satisfaction while work intensification is seen as negative by employees and reduces their job satisfaction. However, results also show that HPWS fail to bring increased satisfaction to employees due to job discretion. This study supports previous studies that not all HPWS may lead to positive outcomes when internal stakeholders’ well-being is not considered. Without considering long-term investment in employees, it is challenging for organizations to maintain their competitiveness and meet their goals. Further research is suggested to include more study of different contexts and time frames while examining the outcomes of HPWS.

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 736-752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Mao ◽  
Heyi Song ◽  
Ying Han

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between employee perspectives of high-performance work systems and employee outcomes, i.e. job satisfaction and affective commitment, and to propose ways of increasing the positive effects of high-performance work systems on firm performance. Design/methodology/approach – The data were collected from 370 employees in the Chinese manufacturing industry during 2010. The Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) method was used to test each of the eight hypotheses deriving from the conceptual framework. Findings – The paper finds that: employee perspectives of high-performance work systems have a positive effect on both job satisfaction and affective commitment; and breadth of behavioural script and level of autonomy mediate the relationship between employee perspectives of high-performance work systems and their attitudes towards that organisation (job satisfaction and affective commitment); however, skill variety did not mediate the relationship between employee perspectives of high-performance work systems and employees’ attitudes in the data set used. Practical implications – The findings of the paper suggest that managers can improve employees’ attitudes by integrating effective high-performance work systems in their working environment. Even more interestingly, it appears that by encouraging broad behavioural scripts or allowing employees more freedom to apply their skills, managers can improve employees’ attitudes more significantly than by encouraging employees to acquire a variety of skills. Originality/value – Using signalling and psychological-contract theory, the paper shows the dominant influence of employees’ perceived high-performance work systems on employees’ attitudes via behavioural scripts and autonomy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 931-950 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subramaniam Ananthram ◽  
Matthew J. Xerri ◽  
Stephen T.T. Teo ◽  
Julia Connell

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the relationships between high-performance work systems (HPWSs) and four employee outcomes – job satisfaction, employee engagement, presenteeism and well-being – in Indian call centres. Design/methodology/approach A path model is developed to investigate the direct and mediation effects between the assessed variables. The study utilised a survey of 250 call centre employees working in five business process management firms based in India. Findings The findings indicate that HPWSs have a positive relationship with job satisfaction, engagement and well-being. Job satisfaction also had a positive relationship with engagement and presenteeism, and engagement was positively related to presenteeism and well-being. However, there was no significant direct effect of HPWS on presenteeism. Mediation analysis showed that HPWS has an indirect effect on well-being via engagement and also via job satisfaction and engagement combined. Research limitations/implications HPWS significantly increases job satisfaction and employee engagement and indirectly influences employee well-being via these outcomes. However, job satisfaction and employee engagement was also found to increase presenteeism, which, in turn, can reduce employee well-being. These findings contribute to the HPWS theory and the literature on employee well-being, and have implications for HR personnel and call centre management. Originality/value Given the well-established challenges with employee retention in Indian call centre environments, one solution may be the adoption of a more strategic approach to HRM using HPWS. Such an approach may enhance employees’ perceptions that HPWS practices would have a positive influence on job satisfaction, employee engagement and employee well-being.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3226
Author(s):  
Daniel Dorta-Afonso ◽  
Manuel González-de-la-Rosa ◽  
Francisco J. García-Rodríguez ◽  
Laura Romero-Domínguez

The purpose of this research is to examine the underlying mechanisms inside the so-called black box that relate high performance work systems (HPWS) with employees’ well-being and job performance in hospitality. We surveyed a sample of 494 hotel workers to test a research model that related the following variables: HPWS, organizational commitment, motivation, job satisfaction, quality of life (QoL), and individual job performance. Structural equation modelling, namely through PLS-SEM, was conducted. We confirmed that HPWS directly influence employees’ motivation, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and QoL. Additionally, workers’ motivation and organizational commitment positively influence job satisfaction, which, in turn, enhances workers’ QoL. Moreover, job satisfaction and quality of life significantly predicted individual job performance. This study contributes to unlocking the so-called black box relating HPWS with job outcomes as well as to the growing body of research that relates employees’ well-being with performance. From a managerial point of view, hospitality firms should prioritize investment in HPWS, as its design and implementation affects employees’ attitudes and behaviors. Future lines of research should consider bundles of practices instead of the whole HPWS effects on employees’ attitudes and behaviors.


2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 690-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Chowhan ◽  
Isik U Zeytinoglu ◽  
Gordon B Cooke

2012 ◽  
pp. 45-75
Author(s):  
Torre Edoardo Della

The debate about the effects of new work systems - the so-called High Performance Work Systems (HPWS) - in terms of improving economic performance and productivity of the enterprise is rich in contributions and a substantial convergence is recorded in saying that, in the presence of a well thought-out and properly implemented system, the effects are positive. More neglected and controversial are the effects that these practices have for the well-being of workers. Through a review of theoretical and empirical literature on the topic, this paper analyses the traditional opposition between supporters of the "empowerment view" and supporters of the "intensification view". The former consider the HPWS such as win-win solutions for enterprises and workers, while the latter believe that the HPWS are a managerial expedient that aims to intensify the pace of work and the efforts required to workers. The results show that both positions are sustainable and attach to internal tensions related to HPWS (i.e. control/ discretion, responsibility/stress, etc.) the uncertainty of the results found from the literature. This interpretation finds in the intermediate "sceptical view" the more careful position to adopt and suggests to pay greater attention to the measurement adopted to analyze these relationships and to the characteristics of the employees and of the context in which HPWS are introduced. Finally, some directions for the development of future researches in this area are drawn.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (1) ◽  
pp. 10517
Author(s):  
Samuel Aryee ◽  
Hsin-Hua Hsiung ◽  
Hyun Young Jo ◽  
David E Guest

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