Organizing for Engagement: A Multilevel SEM Model of the Relationship Between Work Engagement, Job Design, Participation Climate, and Clan Culture

Abstract

Research on work engagement and job demands-resources theory has predominantly focused on individual-level perspectives, leading to a knowledge gap about higher-level antecedents. This study aim to bridge this gap by examining the relationships between work engagement, job design, participation climate, and clan culture, at the individual- and the unit- level using a multilevel structural equation modeling (MLSEM) approach. Drawing on JD-R Theory and Institutional Theory, we propose a composition model of homologous relationships across individual- and unit-levels, assuming construct isomorphism. Data was collected from 909 employees across 101 units in the Norwegian police. The analysis used a two-step MLSEM approach, by first examining the multilevel measurement model and then analyzing the multilevel structural model. The model displayed excellent fit. The findings extend JD-R theory by exploring the unit-level associations beyond individual perceptions and offer insights on the relationship between organizational culture, organizational climate, and employee’s work engagement. This study thus provides theoretical, empirical, and practical contributions, emphasizing the importance of understanding the collective and perceived culture and climate in relation to work engagement, and offering guidance for leaders and organizations in fostering environments conducive to high work engagement.