Examining the Correlation between Employee Engagement and Organizational Performance: A Case Study of Municipalities in Gilan Province

Abstract

This research investigates the correlation between employee engagement and organizational performance in the municipalities of Gilan Province, employing a quantitative, descriptive-survey approach. The study utilizes a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire to gather data from 112 randomly selected municipal employees, focusing on variables such as employee engagement, organizational performance, service quality, and productivity. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by expert review, while reliability was established using Cronbach's alpha coefficients, all exceeding 0.7. Descriptive statistics revealed a diverse sample, with a majority of respondents being male, aged between 30-39 years, and holding a Bachelor's degree. Hypotheses were tested using Spearman correlation coefficients and Friedman's analysis of variance. The results demonstrated strong positive correlations between employee engagement and organizational performance (ρ = 0.68), service quality (ρ = 0.62), and employee productivity (ρ = 0.65), with all correlations being statistically significant (p < 0.001). Friedman's test highlighted leadership support as the most critical factor in driving employee engagement. The study concludes that enhancing employee engagement is vital for improving organizational performance, service quality, and productivity within the municipalities. Practical suggestions include fostering a supportive leadership culture, recognizing and rewarding employee efforts, and providing professional development opportunities. These findings emphasize the importance of employee engagement as a key driver of organizational success in the public sector.