Abstract

Despite the apparent importance of engagement, relatively little academic research has been conducted in this area. Most of the references relate to work done by survey houses and consultancies. The verb ‘to engage’ has a variety of meanings, ranging from straightforward and transactional (to hire someone to do a job), to exciting and mysterious (to fascinate and charm). The closest relationship with engagement is the type of commitment known as ‘affective’. This type of commitment emphasizes the satisfaction people get from their jobs and their colleagues, and the willingness of employees to go beyond the call of duty for the good of the organization. It also goes some way towards capturing the two-way nature of the engagement relationship, as employers are expected to provide a supportive working environment. Research shows that committed employees perform better. If we accept that engagement, as many believe, is ‘one-step up’ from commitment, it is clearly in the organization’s interests to understand the drivers of engagement as well.

Authors and Affiliations