Digital work environment, employee engagement and job performance: A study of a state university in Sri Lanka

Dinusha Gunarathna, Anuradha Iddagoda & Hiranya Dissanayake

Volume 2 Issue 1 May 2025

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https://doi.org/10.53378/meir.155

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Abstract

The study investigates the mediating role of a digital work environment in leadership and training and their influence on employee engagement and job performance in a higher education context. Quantitative approach with a sample size of 161 non-academic employees at ABC State University in Sri Lanka. The data collection was done through structured questionnaires. Regression analysis and structural equation modeling were used to test the hypothesized relationships. The results indicated that leadership and training were significant influencers of the digital work environment, which then influenced employee engagement. Employee engagement mediates between digital work environments and job performance, emphasizing the importance of transformational leadership and continuous training for effective digital transformation. The study is limited to one state university in Sri Lanka, which may affect generalizability. Future research could explore multi-institutional or cross-country analyses for broader applicability.

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Dinusha Gunarathna. Corresponding author. Chartered Qualified Human Resource Management Professional, Chartered Institute of Personal Management Sri Lanka (CIPM). Email: dinushpg@eng.pdn.ac.lk

Anuradha Iddagoda. Member - Chartered Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka (CIPM) Sri Lanka., Senior Lecturer, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. Email: anuradhaiddagoda@sjp.ac.lk

Hiranya Dissanayake. Senior Lecturer, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. Email: hiranya@wyb.ac.lk

"All authors equally contributed to the conception, design, preparation, data gathering and analysis, and writing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript."

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Cite this article:

Gunarathna, D., Iddagoda, A. & Dissanayake, H. (2024). Digital work environment, employee engagement and job performance: A study of a state university in Sri Lanka. Management, Education & Innovation Review, 2(1), 48-64. https://doi.org/10.53378/meir.155