An Investigation Exploring the Drivers of Employee Engagement: A United States Customs and Border Protection Perspective
Year: 2019
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This dissertation is investigating employee engagement in the context of the largest law enforcement agency in the United States, Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This study aims to explore drivers of employee engagement within CBP. The literature on employee engagement is examined to help identify key antecedents. These factors are explored using semi-structured interviews from the perspective of CBP employees. Following a thematic approach to analysis the research aims to discover if the same determinants discussed in the literature influence the engagement of CBP employees. Broadly speaking the findings concur with the literature, however a key finding was identified relating to media coverage as a significant influencer of employee engagement. CBP has received a large amount of negative coverage in the media lately, due to issues on the Mexican border and the desire for the current U.S. administration to construct a wall with Mexico. When exploring this concept, the participants were asked if adverse media coverage influenced their engagement at work in a positive or negative way. The results showed that media coverage had an overriding influence on their level of engagement in the organisation. This research finds that this concept has a significant influence of employee engagement albeit in a negative manner. Interestingly the literature fails to address media coverage as a concept that may influence employee engagement in an organisation. This study recommends future research to address this knowledge deficiency particularly in a business environment where media is increasingly taking centre stage between the organisation and its employees.
Source: NORMA
Author: Mathew B. Harley
Language: English
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2995198340