Role of Entrepreneurial Orientation in Talent Retention among Malaysian Engineers
Abstract
Purpose: This paper examines the linkage between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and talent retention amongst Malaysian engineers from the perspective of entrepreneurial orientation theory.
Design/Methodology/Approach: A cross-sectional survey of 104 engineers from private organisations in Malaysia was conducted to test the hypothesised relationships between constructs. The population comprised graduate and professional engineers who were registered under the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM). The purposive sampling method was employed for data analysis purposes. Data was analysed using partial least square-structural equation modelling technique.
Findings: The results of this study indicated a significant relationship between innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking, and competitive aggressiveness and the intention to stay (ITS). Autonomy was found not significant in predicting engineers’ ITS the same jobs. Engineers require EO to support their freedom of ideas and thoughts to exploit opportunities, produce creativity, and solve engineering task-related problems and uncertainty situations.
Implications/Originality/Value: EO dimensions can be used to predict engineers’ ITS current employments. This study provides crucial information for the organisations and policy makers to develop mechanisms and policies to enhance the engineers’ involvement of effective EO for increasing retention behaviours and career satisfaction. As the EO of engineers’ increase, the ITS will also increase.
Downloads
Article Analytics Summary
References
Abdull Rahman, R. H. (2012). Malaysian firms’ role in retaining engineers.The Economic and Labour Relations Review, 23(4), 57-78. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/103530461202300405
Alavi, S. B., Moteabbed, & S. Arasti, M. R. (2012).A qualitative investigation of career orientations of a sample of Iranian software engineers.Scientia Iranica, 19(3), 662-673. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scient.2011.08.033
Antoncic, J. A. &Antoncic, B. (2011). Employee satisfaction, intrapreneurship and firm growth: A model. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 111(4), 589-607. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/02635571111133560
Bigliardi, B., Petroni, A. & A. I. Dormio, (2005).Organizational socialization, career aspirations and turnover intentions among design engineers.Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 26(6), 424-441. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/01437730510617645
Bolton, D. L. & Lane, M. D. (2012). Individual entrepreneurial orientation: development of a measurement instrument. Education and Training, 54(2/3), 219-233. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/00400911211210314
Campbell, R. I., Gluesing, J. &Perelli, S. (2012). Mindfulness and product failure management: an engineering epistemology. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 29(6), 642-665. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/02656711211245647
Covin, J. G. Slevin, & D. P. (1986). The development and testing of an organizational-level entrepreneurship scale in Ronstadt, R. et al. (Eds), Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research, Babson College, Wellesley, MA, 628-39.
Crant, J. M. (2000). Proactive behaviour in Organizations.Journal of Management, 26(3), 435-462. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/014920630002600304
Elenurm, T. (2012).Entrepreneurial orientations of business students and entrepreneurs.Baltic Journal of Management, 7(2), 217-231. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/17465261211219822
Entebang, H., Harrison, R. T. & Run, E. C. (2010).Entrepreneurial orientation of public enterprises in Malaysia.Business Strategy Series, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 75-77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/17515631011026371
Festing, M. &Scha¨fer, L. (2014). Generational challenges to talent management: a framework for talent retention based on the psychological-contract perspective. Journal of World Business, 49, 262-271. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2013.11.010
Gelens, J., Dries, N., Hofmans, J. &Pepermans, R. (2013). The role of perceived organizational justice in shaping the outcomes of talent management: a research agenda. Human Resource Management Review,23, 341-353. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2013.05.005
George, C. Retaining professional workers: what makes them stay? Employee Relations, 37(1), 102-121. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-10-2013-0151
Govaerts, N., Kyndt, E., Dochy, F. &Baert, H. (2011). Influence of learning and working climate on the retention of talented employees. Journal of Workplace Learning, 23(1),35-55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/13665621111097245
Grip, A. D. & Smits, W. (2012). What affects lifelong learning of scientists and engineers? International Journal of Manpower, 33(5), 583-597. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/01437721211253209
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., &Sarsstedt, M. (2014).A primer on partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). California: SAGE Publication, Inc.
Igbaria, M. & Siegel, S. R. (1992). An examination of the antecedents of turnoverpropensity of engineers: an integrated model. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 9, 101-126. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0923-4748(92)90001-L
Igbaria, M., Kassicieh, S. K. & Silver, M. (1999). Career orientations and career success among research, and development and engineering professionals.Journal of Engineering Technology Management16, 29-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0923-4748(98)00027-7
Jia, J., Wang, G. & Yu, X. Z. X. (2014).Exploring the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and corporate performance.Nankai Business Review International, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 326–344. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/NBRI-05-2014-0024
Khalili, H., Nejadhussein, S. &Fazel, A. (2013).The influence of entrepreneurial orientation on innovative performance.Journal of Knowledge-based Innovation in China, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 262–278. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JKIC-09-2013-0017
Kharbanda, O. P. &Stallworthy, E. A. (1990).Management for engineers.International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 10(6), 2-91. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/01443579010004390
Kollman, T., Christofor, J. &Kuckertz, A. (2007).Explaining individual entrepreneurial orientation: conceptualisation of a cross-cultural research framework.International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 4(3), 25-340. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1504/IJESB.2007.013255
Korte, R. & Li, J. (2015).Exploring the organizational socialization of engineers in Taiwan.Journal of Chinese Human Resource Management, 6(1),33-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHRM-01-2014-0002
Lee, D. M. S. (1994). Social ties, task-related communication and first job performance of young engineers.Journal Engineering Technology Management, 11, 203-228. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0923-4748(94)90010-8
Lewis, R. E. & Heckman, R. J. (2006). Talent management: a critical review. Human Resource Management Review, 16, 139-154. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2006.03.001
Lumpkin, G. T. &Dess, G. G. (1996). Clarifying the entrepreneurial orientation construct and linking it to performance. Academy of Management Review, 21(1), 135-172. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1996.9602161568
Menzel, H. C., Aaltio, I. &Ulijn, M. (2007). On the way to creativity: engineers as intrapreneurs in organizations. Technovation,27, 732-743. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2007.05.004
Oyedele, L. O. (2010). Sustaining architects' and engineers' motivation in design firms: an investigation of critical success factors. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 17(2), 180-196. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/09699981011024687
Tett, R. P. & Meyer, J. P. (1993). Job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover intention, and turnover: Path analysis based on meta-analytic findings. Personnel Psychology, 46(2),342–346. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1993.tb00874.x
Tremblay, M., Wils, T. &Proulx, C. (2002).Determinants of career path preferences among Canadian engineers.Journal of Engineering Technology Management, 19, 1-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0923-4748(01)00043-1
Williamson, J. M., Lounsbury, J. W. Han, & L. D. (2013). Key personality traits of engineers for innovation and technology development. Journal of Engineering Technology Management, 30, 157-168. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jengtecman.2013.01.003
Wu, J. (2009). Entrepreneurial orientation, entrepreneurial intent and new venture creation: test of a framework in a Chinese context. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis.Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Yang, C., Ma, Q. & Hu, L. (2011). Job embeddedness: a new perspective to predict voluntary turnover. Nankai Business Review International, 2(4), 418-446. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/20408741111178834
Zhang, S. & Bright, D. (2012).Talent definition and talent management recognition in Chinese private-owned enterprises.Journal of Chinese Entrepreneurship, 4(2), 143-163. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/17561391211242753
CSRC Publishing and JBSEE adhere to Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License. The authors submitting and publishing in JBSEE agree to the copyright policy under creative common license 4.0 (Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International). Under this license, the authors published in JBSEE retain the copyright including publishing rights of their scholarly work and agree to let others remix, tweak, and build upon their work non-commercially. All other authors using the content of SBSEE are required to cite author(s) and publisher in their work. CSRC Publishing and JBSEE follow an Open Access Policy for copyright and licensing.
