Work engagement through job resources. Theoretical & empirical study

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this study is, at first, to understand the concept of work engagement, its roots and implications. Secondly, from an empirical perspective, a number of detected theoretical relationships are checked, by highlighting the relationship between work engagement and the job resources.  Design/methodology/approach – The document is presented as two parts of a whole, the first is a theoretical review of the work engagement, which is based on the existing literature related to work engagement and the Positive Occupational Psychology, obtained from the database and the library of the Jaume I University. The second, through an empirical and quantitative analysis, it contrasts various hypotheses obtained from the theoretical review and intensifies the study in relation to the roots of work engagement (more specifically the job resources) and its relationship with work engagement. The statistical sample is composed of 40 employees of two recognised companies in the province of Castellon.  Originality/value – The work contributes to deepen a concept within the new paradigm of positive psychology in organisations, such as work engagement. Moreover, as an empirical study, it exemplifies (in small scale) what would be an experimental, quantitative preliminary study, which would enable an organisation to infer the state of engagement of its employees in connection (in my case) with Job Resources. From the findings, the HR department, to support the rest of the organisation, can develop and implement actions, both to correct and prevent the possible scenarios as for optimizing and extend (improve) the status of employees and the climate generated by them.  Research limitations – It is difficult to form generalisations from the research into only 40 individuals. A future study might go further increasing the number of independent variables and with new hypotheses, trying to be more representative.  