IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v10y2018i10p3360-d170975.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Do High-Performance Work Systems Really Satisfy Employees? Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Po-Chien Chang

    (School of Business, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau 519020, China)

  • Ting Wu

    (School of Business, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau 519020, China)

  • Chen-Lin Liu

    (School of Business, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau 519020, China)

Abstract

Our study aims to examine the outcomes of Western-based high-performance work systems (HPWS) from two separate workplace events (job discretion and work intensification) in a Chinese context. Based on Affective Events Theory (AET), employee reactions and job satisfaction may vary depending on their working environment. We applied hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to analyze data collected from 34 human resources managers and 354 employees working in the Chinese manufacturing and service industries. Our study demonstrates that workplace events based on HPWS may influence employees’ feelings and job satisfaction. Job discretion makes employees feel positive and increases their job satisfaction while work intensification is seen as negative by employees and reduces their job satisfaction. However, results also show that HPWS fail to bring increased satisfaction to employees due to job discretion. This study supports previous studies that not all HPWS may lead to positive outcomes when internal stakeholders’ well-being is not considered. Without considering long-term investment in employees, it is challenging for organizations to maintain their competitiveness and meet their goals. Further research is suggested to include more study of different contexts and time frames while examining the outcomes of HPWS.

Suggested Citation

  • Po-Chien Chang & Ting Wu & Chen-Lin Liu, 2018. "Do High-Performance Work Systems Really Satisfy Employees? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:10:p:3360-:d:170975
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/10/3360/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/10/3360/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ciprian Obrad & Vasile Gherheș, 2018. "A Human Resources Perspective on Responsible Corporate Behavior. Case Study: The Multinational Companies in Western Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15, March.
    2. John Godard, 2001. "High Performance and the Transformation of Work? The Implications of Alternative Work Practices for the Experience and Outcomes of Work," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 54(4), pages 776-805, July.
    3. Lu, Chia-Mei & Chen, Shyh-Jer & Huang, Pei-Chi & Chien, Jui-Ching, 2015. "Effect of diversity on human resource management and organizational performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(4), pages 857-861.
    4. Ariel C. Avgar & Niti Pandey & Kiwook Kwon, 2012. "Discretion in Context: A Moderated Mediation Model of the Relationship between Discretion and Turnover Intentions," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1), pages 106-128, January.
    5. John Godard, 2004. "A Critical Assessment of the High‐Performance Paradigm," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 42(2), pages 349-378, June.
    6. Harvie Ramsay & Dora Scholarios & Bill Harley, 2000. "Employees and High‐Performance Work Systems: Testing inside the Black Box," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 38(4), pages 501-531, December.
    7. Jaap Paauwe, 2009. "HRM and Performance: Achievements, Methodological Issues and Prospects," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(1), pages 129-142, January.
    8. Jie Shen, 2010. "Employees' satisfaction with HRM in Chinese privately-owned enterprises," Asia Pacific Business Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(3), pages 339-354, July.
    9. Karim Mignonac & Olivier Herrbach, 2004. "Linking Work Events, Affective States and Attitudes an Empirical Study of Managers' Emotions," Post-Print halshs-00006026, HAL.
    10. Jesus Barrena-Martinez & Macarena López-Fernández & Pedro M. Romero-Fernandez, 2018. "Drivers and Barriers in Socially Responsible Human Resource Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-14, May.
    11. John Paul Macduffie, 1995. "Human Resource Bundles and Manufacturing Performance: Organizational Logic and Flexible Production Systems in the World Auto Industry," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 48(2), pages 197-221, January.
    12. Chidiebere Ndukwe Ogbonnaya & Danat Valizade, 2015. "Participatory workplace activities, employee-level outcomes and the mediating role of work intensification," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 38(5), pages 540-558, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Massoud Moslehpour & Purevdulam Altantsetseg & Weiming Mou & Wing-Keung Wong, 2018. "Organizational Climate and Work Style: The Missing Links for Sustainability of Leadership and Satisfied Employees," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Ting Wei & Weiwei Wang & Suihuai Yu, 2022. "Analysis of the Cognitive Load of Employees Working from Home and the Construction of the Telecommuting Experience Balance Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Juan A. Marin-Garcia & Tomas Bonavia, 2021. "Empowerment and Employee Well-Being: A Mediation Analysis Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-22, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ariel C. Avgar & Niti Pandey & Kiwook Kwon, 2012. "Discretion in Context: A Moderated Mediation Model of the Relationship between Discretion and Turnover Intentions," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1), pages 106-128, January.
    2. Jaap Paauwe, 2009. "HRM and Performance: Achievements, Methodological Issues and Prospects," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(1), pages 129-142, January.
    3. White, Michael & Bryson, Alex, 2018. "HPWS in the Public Sector: Are There Mutual Gains?," IZA Discussion Papers 11965, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Matias Ramirez & Frederick Guy & David Beale, 2007. "Contested Resources: Unions, Employers, and the Adoption of New Work Practices in US and UK Telecommunications," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 45(3), pages 495-517, September.
    5. Pruneda, Gabriel, 2014. "Employee coverage of high-performance work systems in Spain: a comparative analysis before and during economic retrenchment," MPRA Paper 83909, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. HAURET Laetitia & MARTIN Ludivine & OMRANI Nessrine & WILLIAMS Donald R., 2016. "Exposure, participation in human resource management practices and employee attitudes," LISER Working Paper Series 2016-16, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER).
    7. Ed Snape & Tom Redman, 2010. "HRM Practices, Organizational Citizenship Behaviour, and Performance: A Multi‐Level Analysis," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(7), pages 1219-1247, November.
    8. Mingqiong Zhang & David Fan & Cherrie Zhu, 2014. "High-Performance Work Systems, Corporate Social Performance and Employee Outcomes: Exploring the Missing Links," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 120(3), pages 423-435, March.
    9. Andrew Weaver, 2022. "Who Has Trouble Hiring? Evidence from a National IT Survey," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 75(3), pages 608-637, May.
    10. José Manuel Lasierra & José Alberto Molina & Raquel Ortega, 2016. "How does work management improve job satisfaction? Evidence from Spain," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 36(2), pages 1202-1213.
    11. Ali Murat BOYRAZ & Hatice ÖZUTKU, 2019. "Yüksek Performanslı Çalışma Sistemlerinin Algılanan Örgütsel Performans ve Finansal Performansa Etkisi: Türk Bankacılık Sektöründe Bir Araştırma," Istanbul Business Research, Istanbul University Business School, vol. 48(2), pages 248-283, November.
    12. Alex Bryson & Lucy Stokes & David Wilkinson, 2023. "Is pupil attainment higher in well-managed schools?," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(1), pages 129-144, January.
    13. Pasi Koski & Anu Järvensivu, 2010. "The innovation diffusion paradox in the light of ‘shop-floor games’ and micro-politics," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 31(3), pages 345-363, August.
    14. Riccardo Leoni, 2013. "Organization of work practices and productivity: an assessment of research on world- class manufacturing," Chapters, in: Anna Grandori (ed.), Handbook of Economic Organization, chapter 17, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    15. Böckerman, Petri & Bryson, Alex & Ilmakunnas, Pekka, 2012. "Does high involvement management improve worker wellbeing?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 84(2), pages 660-680.
    16. White, Michael & Bryson, Alex, 2019. "The Impact of High-Performance Work Systems on Employees: A Sectoral Comparison," IZA Discussion Papers 12527, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    17. Catherine Casey & Helen Delaney, 2022. "The effort of partnership: Capacity development and moral capital in partnership for mutual gains," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 43(1), pages 52-71, February.
    18. Afshin Omidi & Cinzia Dal Zotto, 2022. "Socially Responsible Human Resource Management: A Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-20, February.
    19. Muhammad Masood Mir & Hafiz Muhammad Sharif & Nousheen Abbas Naqvi, 2017. "Evaluating HR Practices on Organizational Productivity with the Mediation Effect of Employee Satisfaction Evidences from Higher Education Sectors of Karachi Pakistan," KASBIT Business Journals (KBJ), Khadim Ali Shah Bukhari Institute of Technology (KASBIT), vol. 10(Special I), pages 50-76, May.
    20. John Godard, 2007. "Is Good Work Good for Democracy? Work, Change at Work and Political Participation in Canada and England," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 45(4), pages 760-790, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:10:p:3360-:d:170975. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.