Organisational culture orientation, psychological empowerment and employee engagement among employees of National Water and Sewerage Corporation

Abstract

Employee engagement, psychological empowerment and organisational culture are important for determining organisational success and effectiveness. It is therefore important for management to understand the culture, engagement and empowerment levels of their employees. This study examined the relationship between organisational culture orientation (OCO) and psychological empowerment (PE), employee engagement (EE), and examined the mediating effect of psychological empowerment on the relationship between organisational culture orientation and employee engagement of National Water and Sewerage Cooperation (NWSC). The study adopted correlational cross-sectional survey design research on a random sample of 136 respondents from 5 branches of NWSC. The study computed correlations between organisational culture orientation, psychological empowerment, and employee engagement. The study adopted the Baron and Kenny Three Step Mediation Model to test the mediating effect of psychological empowerment on the relationship between organisational culture orientation and employee engagement. Findings revealed that the correlation between organisational culture orientation and psychological empowerment was not statistically significant (r = 0.01, p > 0.01), while psychological empowerment positively and significantly correlated with Employee Engagement (r = 0.55, p > 0.01). organisational culture orientation positively and significantly correlated with employee engagement (r =0.21, p>0.01). Psychological empowerment had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between organisational culture orientation and employee engagement. In conclusion, there was a positive correlation between psychological empowerment and employee engagement, organisational culture orientation and employee engagement of NWSC. Psychological empowerment partially mediates the relationship between organisational culture orientation and employee engagement. There is need to strengthen the psychological empowerment so as to influence both organisational culture orientation and employee engagement. Therefore, NWSC management should invest in strategies that enhance employee engagement to foster a more engaged workforce and a stronger organisational culture orientation.