Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
The impact of psychological contracts on employee engagement at a university of technology
Submitted: 28 January 2018 | Published: 15 January 2019
About the author(s)
Vinessa Naidoo, Business School, Tshwane University of Technology, South AfricaIshana Abarantyne, Business School, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa
Robert Rugimbana, Business School, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa
Abstract
Orientation: Changing organisational dynamics have caused a need for organisations to understand the employment relationship processes and outcomes in order to improve organisational effectiveness, increase productivity and retain talented employees.
Research purpose: The purpose of the study is to determine which elements of the academic employee’s psychological contract are impacting employee engagement at a university of technology.
Motivation for the study: The study was motivated by the findings of a 2013 climate survey at an institute of higher education, indicating that many employees were dissatisfied and believed that their expectations were not met by the organisation.
Research approach/design and method: A quantitative technique via online questionnaires was employed for data collection. The sample size was 400 out of 900 academic staff members.
Main findings: The study confirmed that most employees appear to have developed a positive psychological contract. It indicated, however, that many employees may be experiencing discord in the employment relationship. Both transactional and relational elements of the psychological contract appeared to be essential to academic employees.
Practical/managerial implications: The study identified factors of importance to academic employees that should be considered in the compilation of retention policies.
Contribution/value-add: The results of the study could contribute towards addressing some of the challenges by creating a better understanding of the needs of academic employees and the impact of psychological contract fulfilment and breach. This could benefit the higher education sector as a whole.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 9128Total article views: 15962
Crossref Citations
1. Employee Performance: Exploring the Nexus of Nonstandard Services, Psychological Contracts, and Knowledge Sharing
Ahmad Munawir, Bambang Dwi Suseno, Mohammad Amin Kuhail
Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies vol: 2024 issue: 1 year: 2024
doi: 10.1155/2024/6746963
2. THE INFLUENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL ON WORKPLACE WELLBEING AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AMONG SAUDI WORKFORCE
Nasser Saad Alkahtani, Sulphey M M, Kevin Delany, Anass Hamad Elneel Adow
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews vol: 8 issue: 5 first page: 233 year: 2020
doi: 10.18510/hssr.2020.8522
3. The influence of emotional intelligence and resilience on work engagement amongst nurses in public hospitals
Pardon Chikobvu, Martha Harunavamwe
SA Journal of Industrial Psychology vol: 48 year: 2022
doi: 10.4102/sajip.v48i0.1919
4. Influence of empowerment, psychological contract and employee engagement on voluntary turnover intentions
Sandhya S, Sulphey M M
International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management vol: 70 issue: 2 first page: 325 year: 2020
doi: 10.1108/IJPPM-04-2019-0189
5. Kierunki badań nad kontraktem psychologicznym – systematyczny przegląd literatury
Agata Bera
Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego w Krakowie issue: 4(998) first page: 129 year: 2023
doi: 10.15678/ZNUEK.2022.0998.0407
6. Examining the mediating-moderating role of psychological contract breach and abusive supervision on employee well-being in banking sector
Saba Gulzar, Nadia Ayub, Zuhair Abbas, Manish Gupta
Cogent Business & Management vol: 8 issue: 1 year: 2021
doi: 10.1080/23311975.2021.1959007
7. Relationship Analysis and the Enhancement of Student Social Intelligence in Problem-Based Social Science Learning
Fadhil Nur Hidayat, Herwin, Sekar Purbarini Kawuryan, Dhiniaty Gularso, Aminul Qodat
Jurnal Iqra' : Kajian Ilmu Pendidikan vol: 8 issue: 2 first page: 380 year: 2023
doi: 10.25217/ji.v8i2.3489
8. Multi-generational workforce job retention: Coping strategy influences among South African engineers
Samantha Samuel, Nadia Ferreira
Journal of Psychology in Africa vol: 33 issue: 1 first page: 50 year: 2023
doi: 10.1080/14330237.2023.2175987
9. Psychological Contract Breach and Counterproductive Work Behaviour Among Administrative Staff at a South African University: The Role of Revenge
Nthabiseng Makara, Crispen Chipunza
International Journal of Applied Research in Business and Management vol: 6 issue: 2 year: 2025
doi: 10.51137/wrp.ijarbm.2025.nmpt.45846
10. The influence of the psychological contract on employee engagement in a South African bank
Dzunani A. Ngobeni, Musawenkosi D. Saurombe, Renjini M. Joseph
Frontiers in Psychology vol: 13 year: 2022
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.958127
11. Effect of servant leadership on lecturers’ attitudinal and behavioral loyalty in Nigeria: conservation of resource theory perspective
Muhammad Bello Jakada
International Journal of Educational Management vol: 39 issue: 1 first page: 88 year: 2025
doi: 10.1108/IJEM-05-2023-0253
12. Age and work engagement: Psychological contract influence in Zimbabwean tertiary education
Pride Mkandatsama, Nadia Ferreira, Alda Deas
SA Journal of Human Resource Management vol: 23 year: 2025
doi: 10.4102/sajhrm.v23i0.3079
13. Driving Success in Fast-Fashion Retail: A Moderated Mediation Model
William Widjaja, Sabil Sabil, Michael Michael, Devi Rahnjen Wijayadne
Jurnal Manajemen vol: 29 issue: 1 first page: 88 year: 2025
doi: 10.24912/jm.v29i1.2480
14. Relationship between employee engagement and staff morale: Case of public nursing staff
Lulama Mabe, Ilze Swarts, Mphoreng Mmako
Africa’s Public Service Delivery and Performance Review year: 2025
doi: 10.4102/apsdpr.v13i1.916