Abstract:
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship of the interaction effect of perceived
organizational support (POS) and self-efficacy (SE) with work engagement (WE) within the primary education
industry.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper relies on structural equation modeling (SEM) with AMOS
(V.22) to test and resolve the conditional hypothesis that fusion of POS and SE is necessary for WE.
Findings – The scale of effect of POS on WE depends on SE; hence, the assumption of nonadditivity is
achieved. Precisely, the interaction of POS and SE is necessary for WE.
Research limitations/implications – The study was based on a single research methodological approach,
namely quantitative research methodology, which could have been affected the outcome of this investigation.
Future studies could investigate WE interaction model through qualitative lens in order to provide a
triangulation opportunity. Moreover, the findings from the current study are cross-sectional, and data were
collected at a snapshot. Therefore, future research should consider the multiplicative effects studied in this
paper across time.
Practical implications – Attempts to heighten WE levels, among government primary school teachers in
Uganda, would require that management regularly ventures into finding a more practical and feasible fusion of
POS with SE in order to provide significant levels of WE among employees of primary education industry.
Originality/value – This is the first study that tests the interactive effects of POS and SE on WE in Uganda’s
primary education industry.
