Enhancing sustainable performance through job characteristics via workplace spirituality: A study on SMEs
Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management
ISSN: 2053-4620
Article publication date: 31 December 2018
Issue publication date: 20 July 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide empirical evidence of the associations between perceived job characteristics and workplace spirituality with environmental sustainability within the domain of small- and medium-sized enterprises. This study aims to investigate the influence of perceived job characteristics (job identity, task significance and task variety) on environmental sustainability through workplace spirituality.
Design/methodology/approach
Data are collected from 400 small and medium enterprises (SME) employees working in New Delhi, India, and Islamabad, Pakistan. Response rate in this study is 58 per cent. Structural equation modeling has been used to analyze the data through SmartPLS 3.0 and SPSS version 24.
Findings
The results indicate that perceived job characteristics have significant positive influence over workplace spirituality. It is concluded that workplace spirituality also significantly mediates the relationship between perceived job characteristics and environmental sustainability.
Research limitations/implications
In the present study, perceived job characteristics have been evaluated to improve environmental sustainability in SMEs from Pakistan and India. Therefore, before generalization in the context of other countries can be made, the results obtained may need some modifications.
Practical implications
The research concerns the understanding of various job characteristics and environmental sustainability from the viewpoint of employees in SMEs at imparting perceived job characteristics as important factors to meet challenges relevant to environmental sustainability in the dynamic market.
Social implications
There is anecdotal evidence claiming the pivotal role of job characteristics and workplace spirituality toward the recognition of sustainability in the progressive dynamic market. The results of this study represent the effectiveness of perceived job characteristics for accomplishing social objectives through workplace spirituality.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the field by bringing together the concepts of workplace spirituality with perceived job characteristics and environmental sustainability in the context of Pakistani and Indian SMEs.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper forms part of a special section “Research Advances on Sustainability from an Interdisciplinary Approach: Leading Trends in Asia, Europe and Gulf Region”, guest edited by Patricia Ordóñez de Pablos.
The authors would like to thank Universiti Sains Malaysia for funding this project under the Incentive GOT grant code no: 1001/PMGT/822110.
Citation
Iqbal, Q., Ahmad, N.H. and Ahmad, B. (2021), "Enhancing sustainable performance through job characteristics via workplace spirituality: A study on SMEs", Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, Vol. 12 No. 3, pp. 463-490. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTPM-02-2018-0022
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited