The relationship between organisational culture, employee engagement and organisational performance in the public sector in South Africa = Ubudlelwano phakathi kohlobo lwezinqubo zezinhlangano, ukubandakanyeka kwabasebenzi kanye nokusebenza kwezinhlangano emkhakheni wezabasebenzi bezomphakathi eNingizimu Afrikha.

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between organisational culture (OC), employee engagement (EE), and organisational performance (OP) within the South African public sector. As the country’s largest employer, the effectiveness of public institutions depends significantly on the engagement, motivation, and cultural alignment of their workforce. Despite the critical importance of these factors, limited empirical research has examined their interrelationships in the South African public sector context. This study seeks to address this gap by examining how OC influences EE and how EE, in turn, affects OP. The research adopts a positivist paradigm and employs a quantitative design, using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to test the hypothesised relationships. The primary objectives are to assess the influence of OC on EE, evaluate the impact of EE on OP, and examine the mediating role of EE in the OC–OP relationship. Secondary objectives explore the effects of leadership, communication, job involvement, organisational commitment, and employee satisfaction on engagement and performance outcomes. Although the initial sample targeted 285 employees from three public sector organisations, a total of 408 valid responses were received and included in the final analysis. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed using correlation analysis, regression analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis to assess both measurement and structural models. The findings confirm that organisational culture significantly influences employee engagement and that engagement plays a mediating role in enhancing organisational performance. The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical insights specific to the South African public sector and validating a conceptual model that links OC, EE, and OP through key contributing factors. Practical recommendations are offered to public sector leaders and managers, highlighting strategies to strengthen organisational culture and employee engagement to improve overall performance and service delivery.

Iqoqa. Lolu cwaningo luphenya ngobudlelwano phakathi kohlobo lwezinqubo zezinhlangano, i-organizational culture (OC), ukubandakanyeka kwabasebenzi, i-employee engagement (EE) kanye nokusebenza kwezinhlangano, i-organizational perfomance (OP) emkhakheni wezabasebenzi bezomphakathi eNingizimu Afrikha. Njengomqashi wabantu abaningi ngokwedlulele ezweni, ukusebenza ngendlela efanele kwezinhlangano ezibhekelela umphakathi kuncike kakhulu ekubandakanyeni, nasekukhuthazweni kwabasebenzi, kube kuhambisana nokwamasiko abo. Nakuba zonke lezi zimo zibaluleke kakhulu, luseluncane ucwaningo oluphathekayo oluhlola ubudlelwano kunzikandaweni womkhakha wabasebenzi bezomphakathi eNingizimu Afrikha. Lolu cwaningo luhlose ukubheka leli gebe ngokuhlola ukuthi i-OC inamthelela muni ku-EE nokuthi i-EE yona inamthelela muni ku-OP. Lolu cwaningo lulandela uhlelomqondo lokuqinisekisa izenzeko bese lusebenzisa isakhiwo esiyikhwantithethivu kanye ne-Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) ukuhlola ubudlelwano obucatshangwe bungakafakazelwa. Izinhlosongqangi ukuhlola umthelela we-OC ku-EE, kuhlolwe umthelela we-EE ku-OP bese kuhlolwa neqhaza lokuxazulula le-EE ebudlelwaneni be-OC-OP. Izinhloso ezengeziwe zihlola imithelela yobuholi, ukuxhumana, ukubandakanyeka komsebenzi, ukuzibophezela komsebenzi enhlanganweni kanye nokweneliseka komsebenzi emiphumeleni yokubandakanyeka kanye nasekusebenzeni. Yize isampula lokuqala laliqoke abasebenzi abangama-285 ezinhlanganweni ezintathu zomkhakha wezabasebenzi bezomphakathi, kwatholakala izimpendulo eziqinisekile ezingama-408 ezahlanganiswa ohlaziyweni lokugcina. Imininingo yaqoqwa ngokusebenzisa uhlu lwemibuzo ehlelekile, yahlaziywa ngokusebenzisa uhlaziyo oluhlobanisayo, uhlaziyo lwesilinganisobudlelwano, nohlaziyo lwezimo eziqinisekisayo ukuhlola amamodeli esilinganiso nawesakhiwo. Imiphumela iqinisekisa ukuthi izinqubo zenhlangano zinomthelela omkhulu ekubandakanyweni kwabasebenzi nokuthi lokhu kubandakanywa kudlala indima yokuxazulula ekuthuthukiseni ukusebenza kwezinhlangano. Lolu cwaningo lwenezezela emibhalweni ngokunikeza ulwazi oluphathekayo oluqondene nomkhakha wezomphakathi eNingizimu Afrikha futhi luqinisekisa imodeli yomqondomsuka ehlanganisa i-OC, EE, kanye OP ngezimo eziphambili ezenezezelayo. Kunikezelwa ngezincomo ezingasebenziseka kubaholi kanye nabaphathi emkhakheni wezomphakathi, kugqanyiswa amasu angaqinisa uhlobo lwezinqubo ezilandelwayo ezinhlanganweni kanye nokubandakanyeka kwabasebenzi ukuthuthukisa ukusebenza ngobubanzi kanye nokunikezelwa kwezinsiza.