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The Impact of Incentive and Reward Systems on Employee Performance in the Saudi Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Industrial Sectors: A Mediating Influence of Employee Job Satisfaction

Author

Listed:
  • Ibrahim Ghazi Alkandi

    (Business Administration Department, College of Administrative and Financial Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh 11673, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mohammed Arshad Khan

    (Department of Accountancy, College of Administrative and Financial Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh 11673, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mohammed Fallatah

    (Business Administration Department, College of Administrative and Financial Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh 11673, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ahmad Alabdulhadi

    (Business Administration Department, College of Business Administration, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia)

  • Salem Alanizan

    (Business Administration Department, College of Administrative and Financial Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh 11673, Saudi Arabia)

  • Jaithen Alharbi

    (Management and Humanities Department Applied College, Imam Mohamed bin Saud Islamic University, Riyad 11564, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

The three levels of the industrial sector in Saudi Arabia (primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors) are collectively regarded as a pillar of the economy, with great potential that offers attractive job prospects. Therefore, the success of Saudi private sector companies and foreign companies operating in the Kingdom is pivotal. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of incentives and rewards on the performance of employees in the Saudi industrial sectors, and the role of job satisfaction in this relationship. The research population consisted of employees working with the industrial sectors in Eastern Region in Saudi Arabia, and the sample comprised 216 full-time employees. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used as a statistical method for testing the hypotheses. The results demonstrated that there is an insignificant direct effect between incentives and rewards, and employees’ performance. However, evidence shows a significant direct effect between incentives and rewards, and job satisfaction, as well as a significant direct effect between the mediating variable, job satisfaction, and performance. Furthermore, when job satisfaction acts as a mediator, the influence of incentives and rewards on employees’ performance is significant. The research findings have notable theoretical and practical implications for incentive and rewards systems. The present study seeks to further our understanding of the incentive and reward effect on employees’ performance by examining job satisfaction as a mediating variable to the relationship. Additionally, the study attempts to explain how the relationship between proposed variables works in Saudi cultural context, which differs than Western contexts where most of the previous studies have been conducted. Analyzing employee job satisfaction as a mediator facilitates a better understanding of how and why different forms of incentives and rewards enhance employees’ behavior at work.

Suggested Citation

  • Ibrahim Ghazi Alkandi & Mohammed Arshad Khan & Mohammed Fallatah & Ahmad Alabdulhadi & Salem Alanizan & Jaithen Alharbi, 2023. "The Impact of Incentive and Reward Systems on Employee Performance in the Saudi Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Industrial Sectors: A Mediating Influence of Employee Job Satisfaction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-22, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3415-:d:1066875
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Greg Jr. Mapacpac & Antonio Yango, 2023. "Workplace Empowerment, Job Satisfaction, and Teaching Performance of Public Senior High School Teachers' in City Schools Division in the Province of Laguna," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 44(1), pages 259-282, June.
    4. Salem Al-Oun & Ziad (Mohammed Fa’eq) Al-Khasawneh, 2025. "Sustainable Human Resource Management and Career Quality in Public Utilities: Evidence from Jordan’s Electricity Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-35, May.
    5. Qiu, Lili & Olaru, Doina & Purchase, Sharon, 2024. "Fostering strategic synergy: Empirical insights on aligning innovation activities with competitive strategies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).

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