Work engagement and organisational commitment at a private distance learning institution in South Africa

Abstract

Organisations are increasingly concerned about employees’ work engagement and organisational commitment due to the influence of the two constructs on important organisational outcomes. A question that is also pertinent is “is it possible to have engaged but uncommitted employees?” This study explores work engagement’s relationship with organisational commitment within the private distance learning context. Schufeli and Bakker’s (2004) 17-item work engagement scale and Allen and Meyer's (1990) organisational commitment questionnaire were utilised to collect data from a sample comprising 110 staff members from a private distance education institution. It emerged from the study that a moderate positive significant relationship exists between work engagement and organisational commitment. A further moderate positive significant association was cited between organisational commitment and each of the work engagement constructs. The data demonstrated that work engagement predicts organisational commitment. The results also indicated differences in both work engagement and organisational commitment according to biographical details, with males exhibiting more elevated levels in both constructs than female participants, and those with qualifications above grade 12 showing more elevated levels of work engagement than those with grade 12 or less. The results of the study could benefit organisations to better comprehend work engagement and organisational commitment, and to assist in recommending strategies to improve both engagement and commitment.