Organisational climate as a predictor of workforce performance in the Malaysian higher education institutions

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate whether organisational climate (OC) predicts academic staff performance at Malaysian higher education institutions (HEIs). The study equally aims at validating the psychometric properties of OC and workforce performance (WFP) constructs.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey questionnaires were administered to 800 academic staff of eight selected HEIs. Principal component analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, full-fledged structural equation modelling and multiple regression analysis were performed to explore the underlying factors and test the factorial validity of the constructs.

Findings

The analysis yielded a five-factor index for the OC construct, whereas the WFP construct comprised two factors. The findings reveal a strong predictive causal effect between OC and WFP. These results suggest that establishing a positive OC enhances academic staff performance. Furthermore, the hypothesised model adds new knowledge to the literature of OC, from the Malaysian context, which could be used to predict WFP at the tertiary level.

Practical implications

The study concludes by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of the findings for HEIs.

Originality/value

This paper makes a significant contribution to the understanding of how OC could be used as an effective instrument in improving academic staff performance in the context of Malaysian HEIs.

Citation

Musah, M.B., Ali, H.M., Vazhathodi al-Hudawi, S.H., Tahir, L.M., Daud, K.B., Said, H.B. and Kamil, N.M. (2016), "Organisational climate as a predictor of workforce performance in the Malaysian higher education institutions", Quality Assurance in Education, Vol. 24 No. 3, pp. 416-438. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-10-2014-0048