The fundamental role of social support in cultivating motivation to improve work through learning

• Main Author: Ng, Kueh Hua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd 2017
• Subjects: H Social Sciences (General)
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/14960/2/The%20fundamental.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/14960/; https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85007518391&doi=10.1108%2fICT-08-2016-0059&partnerID=40&md5=6996b04bd77bc2c4a246dbfbee522a84

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of the relationship between social support (organizational, supervisor, and co-worker support) and the higher-order construct of motivation in human resource development (HRD), namely motivation to improve work through learning (MTIWL). Design/methodology/approach: Self-reported data were collected from 131 public service employees who had attended management training programs organized by one of the Malaysian public service training providers. Findings: Support emanating from the organization, supervisor, and co-worker had exerted positive and significant influences on MTIWL. Further, organizational support had the strongest relationship with MTIWL, relative to supervisor and co-worker support. Practical implications: There is a need to extend the responsibility and proficiency of the organization, supervisor, and co-worker in providing practical support in training and workplace contexts to further enhance MTIWL. Originality/value: This paper provides a better understanding of the influences of social support on a more practical and comprehensive trainee motivation in HRD, which is MTIWL.