https://doi.org/10.1177/1523422317741692
Advances in Developing Human
Resources
2018, Vol. 20(1) 44–57
© The Author(s) 2017
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DOI: 10.1177/1523422317741692
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Article
An Empirical Clarification
on the Assessment of
Engagement at Work
Manish Gupta
1
and Keerti Shukla
1
Abstract
The Problem.
The attachment of a person’s “self” to “role” has been studied from a variety of
perspectives by numerous social scientists since 1990. However, scholars are divided
on the issues of definition and measurement of engagement. Also, the incremental
validity of one engagement measure over the other in predicting performance has
not been examined. Therefore, this study attempts to review, test, and examine the
incremental validity of different operational definitions of engagement in light of the
self and role theory.
The Solution.
ANOVA conducted using 317 knowledge workers from different companies in India
indicates that personal engagement, work engagement, and job engagement differ
significantly from each other. Next, the results of step-wise regression indicate
incremental validity of work engagement over other types of engagements in
predicting task performance. However, personal engagement remains the strongest
predictor of task performance.
The Stakeholders.
The results of this study are expected to help human resource development (HRD)
scholars make more informed decision while choosing a particular engagement
measure. The results also encourage practitioners to use work engagement scale to
explain their employees’ performance, at least in the Indian context.
Keywords
engagement at work, India, performance, self and role theory
1
IFHE University, Hyderabad, India
Corresponding Author:
Manish Gupta, Department of HR at IBS Hyderabad, IFHE University, Donthanapally, Shankarapalli Road,
Hyderabad, Telangana 501203, India.
Email: manish.gupta.research@gmail.com
741692ADH XX X 10.1177/1523422317741692Advances in Developing Human ResourcesGupta and Shukla
research-article 2017