THE MODERATING ROLES OF OPENNESS TO EXPERIENCE TOWARDS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JOB CHARACTERISTICS AND JOB ENGAGEMENT AMONG ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AT THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS, MALAYSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJEMP.934004Keywords:
Enforcement Officers, Job Characteristics, Job Engagement, Personality TraitsAbstract
Job characteristics refer to the specific aspects or features of a job that shape how employees perceive, experience, and respond to their work environment. These characteristics play a crucial role in determining employees’ levels of motivation, job satisfaction, performance, engagement and their overall intention to remain within an organization. The main objective of this study was to investigate the moderating role of the personality trait “openness to experience” on the relationship between job characteristics and job engagement among enforcement officers working under the Ministry of Home Affairs in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The study adopted a correlational quantitative design to examine the relationships among the key variables. Data were collected using a snowball sampling technique and gathered through an online questionnaire consisting of four structured sections measuring job characteristics, openness to experience, job engagement and demographic information. The hierarchical regression analysis was employed to determine both the direct and interaction effects between job characteristics and openness to experience on job engagement. The findings revealed that openness to experience significantly moderated the relationship between job characteristics and job engagement. This indicates that employees who score high in openness to experience are more likely to engage deeply with their work when their job characteristics are enriched and stimulating. The implications of this study are both theoretical and practical. By fostering a supportive and empowering work environment where employees feel valued, trusted and challenged, organizations can strengthen engagement levels, promote higher motivation, and enhance overall job performance. Ultimately, the study emphasizes that aligning job characteristics with individual personality traits, particularly openness to experience, can create a more dynamic, committed, and productive workforce.
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