JOB CHARACTERISTICS AND EMPLOYEE OUTCOME A PATH ANALYSIS OF MEANINGFUL WORK, WORK ENGAGEMENT, AND JOB PERFORMANCE IN CHONBURI’S HIGH-SKILL INDUSTRY
Main Article Content
Abstract
This research aimed to study the effects of job characteristics on the perception of meaningful work, work engagement, and job performance of employees in the plastic film industry, which is considered a high-skill industry in Thailand. The study analyzed each dimension of job characteristics based on the model proposed, which includes skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback. The quantitative research was applied, statistics used for data analysis included frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and path analysis. Sample data of 321 from 930 employees of a plastic film manufacturing company were sampling by using a questionnaire administered to employees. A stratified probability sampling method was employed. The results of the path analysis showed that autonomy ( = 0.613, p < 0.001) and task significance (
= 0.599, p < 0.001) had a significant positive influence on meaningful work, while feedback (
= 0.185, p < 0.001) significantly affected both work engagement and job performance. However, task significance had a negative effect on job performance (p = 0.029), and not effect on work engagement (
= 0.012, p = 0.829) reflecting the complexity of the role in the actual work context. This research provides theoretical propositions to support the multidimensional job design concept and to provide clear and actionable managerial implications for executives in enhancing job quality within the plastic film industry and other similar manufacturing sectors, to foster employees’ intrinsic motivation and sustainably improve work performance in high-skill industry contexts.
Article Details
References
ภัทราภรณ์ ธนาการสิทธิ์. (2566). อิทธิพลของคุณลักษณะของงานที่มีผลต่อผลการปฏิบัติงานด้านการให้บริการของพนักงานขายในธุรกิจค้าปลีกโดยมีงานที่มีความหมายเป็นตัวแปรส่งผ่าน. วารสารวิจัยมหาวิทยาลัยเวสเทิร์น มนุษยศาสตร์และสังคมศาสตร์, 9(1), 169-182.
ยุพเรศ มาตาพิทักษ์. (2560). ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างการเรียนรู้ตลอดชีวิตคุณลักษณะของงานกับความสามารถในการปฏิบัติงานของพยาบาลวิชาชีพในโรงพยาบาลศูนย์ในจังหวัดชลบุรี. ใน วิทยานิพนธ์พยาบาลศาสตรมหาบัณฑิต สาขาวิชาการบริหารการพยาบาล. มหาวิทยาลัยบูรพา.
อมรรัตน์ เศวตวงษ์. (2560). ปัจจัยคุณภาพชีวิตในการทำงานและคุณลักษณะของงานที่มีผลต่อประสิทธิภาพในการปฏิบัติงานของบุคลากร: กรณีศึกษาโรงพยาบาลเอกชนแห่งหนึ่ง. ใน สารนิพนธ์วิทยาศาสตรมหาบัณฑิต สาขาวิชาการจัดการทรัพยากรมนุษย์. มหาวิทยาลัยศรีปทุม.
Adeniran, A. O. (2025). Understanding Cronbach’s Alpha in social and management studies. Current Science Research Bulletin, 2(2), 11-16.
Adiarani, P. G. (2019). The effects of job characteristics on work engagement. Russian Journal of Agricultural and Socio-Economic Sciences, 85(1), 475-479.
Albrecht, S. L. et al. (2021). Meaningful work, job resources, and employee engagement. Sustainability, 13(7), 4045. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13074045 .
Best, J. W. (1977). Research in education. (3rd ed.). New Jersey: Publisher.
Cotic, L. P. et al. (2025). Job characteristics for work wngagement: Autonomy, feedback, skill variety, task identity, and task significance. Global Business and Organizational Excellence, 44(5), 75-85.
Duffy, R. D. et al. (2018). Work as a calling: A theoretical model. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 65(4), 423-439.
Fernet, C. et al. (2015). Transformational leadership and optimal functioning at work: On the mediating role of employees’ perceived job characteristics and motivation. Work & Stress, 29(1), 11-31.
Hackman, J. R. & Oldham, G. R. (1976). Motivation through the design of work: test of a theory. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 16(2), 250-279.
Hair, J. F. et al. (2010). Multivariate data analysis. (7th ed.). New York: Pearson.
Humphrey, S. E. et al. (2007). Integrating motivational, social, and contextual work design features:
A meta-analytic summary and theoretical extension of the work design literature. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(5), 1332-1356.
Kline, R. B. (2016). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. (4th ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
Kluger, A. N. & DeNisi, A. (1996). The effects of feedback interventions on performance: A historical review, a meta-analysis, and a preliminary feedback intervention theory. Psychological Bulletin, 119(2), 254-284.
Mazzetti, G. et al. (2021). Work engagement: A meta-analysis using the job demands-resources model. Psychological Reports, 126(3), 1069-1107.
Mordor Intelligence. (2025). Thailand plastic packaging films market size & share analysis - growth trends & forecasts (2025-2030). Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/thailand-plastic-packaging-films-market
Motowidlo, S. J. & Van Scotter, J. R. (1994). Evidence that task performance should be distinguished from contextual performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 79(4), 475-483.
Schaufeli, W. B. et al. (2002). The measurement of engagement and burnout: A two sample confirmatory factor analytic approach. Journal of Happiness Studies, 3, 71-92. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015630930326.
Shantz, A. et al. (2013). The role of employee engagement in the relationship between job design and task performance, citizenship and deviant behaviours. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 24(13), 2608-2627.
Spreitzer, G. M. (1995). Psychological empowerment in the workplace: Dimensions, measurement, and validation. Academy of Management Journal, 38(5), 1442-1465.
Steger, M. F. et al. (2012). Measuring meaningful work: The Work as Meaning Inventory (WAMI). Journal of Career Assessment, 20(3), 322-337.
SWITCH-Asia. (2025). Plastic policies in Thailand: Market assessment and policy recommendations. United Nations Environment Programme. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.switch-asia.eu/site/assets/files/4411/plastic_policies_th.pdf
Van den Broeck, A. et al. (2010). Not all job demands are equal: Differentiating job hindrances and job challenges in the Job Demands Resources model. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 19(6), 735-759.
World Bank. (2020). Thailand market assessment report: Plastic value chain. World Bank Group. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/973801612513854507/pdf/World-Bank-Thailand-Market-Assessment-Report-Plastic-Value-Chain.txt
Zaman, U. et al. (2020). Having a whale of a time: Linking self-determination theory (S.D.T), job characteristics model (JCM) and motivation to the joy of gig work. Cogent Business & Management, 7(1), 1-15.
Zhang, X. & Bartol, K. M. (2010). Linking empowering leadership and employee creativity: The influence of psychological empowerment, intrinsic motivation, and creative process engagement. Academy of Management Journal, 53(1), 107-128.
Zhao, S. et al. (2024). Job characteristics model-based study of the intrinsic motivations for primary care practitioners. Chinese General Practice Journal, 1(1), 3-10.
