The influence of employee motivation and innovative behavior: Thai Airways international case study

Abstract

There is a huge scale of competition in the airline business and employee plays a vital role factor for success or failure of organization hence this study aims to examine the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors for job satisfaction on employee engagement and employees’ innovative behavior in the airlines industry in Thailand with Thai Airways International as the case study. It is essential for the survival of business, as new human resources practice is vital to improve employees’ performance, hence employee engagement has been implemented in many industries as it is believed to be a key ingredient in performance growth for both employee, organization and global competitiveness.

This study employed a quantitative method and data collecting by a survey questionnaire with airline ground staff. The data was collected from the various position of frontline group employee for instance check-in staff, boarding gate staff, baggage handling staff and lounge attendant staff. A total of 320 questionnaire forms was collected then analyzed by data analysis performed by using Structural Equation Modelling technique with the operate of AMOS program. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to analysis the reliability of variables, a pilot test of 30 data was used to pretest the validity and reliability of the instruments. The findings revealed that career growth is the most intrinsic motivating factor and organizational policy is the most extrinsic motivating factor that influence on job satisfaction. Research found that job satisfaction is an antecedent of employee engagement; moreover, employee engagement is positively related to employees’ innovative behavior. Exploring the key driver of employees’ motivation, employees’ job satisfaction, employee engagement and employees’ innovative behavior contributes to both academic and practical implications. In addition, this study proposes new knowledge for a future study model which is from the key finding of this study and for the future study in deep of key driver of employee engagement impact on the innovative work behavior that can be applied to any industry.