Work Engagement as a Mediator of Learning Culture, Work Recognition, and Work Motivation on Employee Performance in Japanese Trading Companies

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26740/jptt.v17n02.p204-216

Keywords:

Employee performance, Learning culture, Work recognition, Work motivation, Work engagement

Abstract

Background: Employee performance is a crucial factor for maintaining and improving business performance. Currently, there are around 700 Japanese multinational company in Indonesia, and 73% are located in Jakarta and the surrounding areas. Japanese multinational company have standard to measure employee performance to make sure alignment with company goals. In line with the need to maintain employee performance as business needs, it is important to identify and study variable that may influence employee performance directly or indirectly. Objective: To know the influence of learning culture, work recognition and work motivation on employee performance with work engagement as mediating variable. Method: Measurement was calculated by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using Amos version 21 to 159 sample of employees who work in Japanese trading company in Jakarta and surrounding area. Results: Work engagement and work motivation suggesting significant effect on employee performance. Work engagement mediated effect of learning culture, work recognition and work motivation on employee performance.  Conclusion: To improve employee performance, company should consider program related work engagement and work motivation.

References

Al-Romeedy, B. S., El-Bardan, M. F., & Badwy, H. E. (2025). How is employee performance affected by employer branding in tourism businesses? Mediation analysis. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 8(2), 790–809. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-05-2024-0418

Anitha, J. (2014). Determinants of employee engagement and their impact on employee performance. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 63(3), 308–323. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-01-2013-0008

Asroh, M. F. M., & Abdullah, C. Z. (2017). Motivational driven and learning culture for organization performance. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 7(12), 523. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i12/3633

Biswakarma, G., & Subedi, K. (2025). The mediating role of employee engagement on the relationship between learning culture and employee performance in the service sector. The Learning Organization, 32(2), 259–281. https://doi.org/10.1108/TLO-09-2023-0178

Dumalang, M. A., & Tanuwijaya, J. (2023). Studi kasus PT. Malindo Feedmill, Tbk: Pengaruh antara work environment, organizational culture, extrinsic motivation, dan intrinsic motivation yang dimediasi oleh employee engagement terhadap employee performance. Jurnal Manajemen dan Sains, 8(1), 1235–1245. https://doi.org/10.33087/jmas.v8i1.1266

Engidaw, A. E. (2021). The effect of motivation on employee engagement in public sectors: In the case of North Wollo zone. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 10, 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-021-00185-1

Eshete, S. K., Debela, K. L., & Kebede, T. A. (2025). Personality and workplace employees’ performance: Systematic review. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 14, 131. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-025-00602-9

Guo, L., & Chelliah, S. (2024). The impact of self determination theory on work motivation: A critical review. Global Business and Management Research: An International Journal, 16(4S), 1916–1936.

Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2019). Multivariate data analysis (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Hussain, S. D., Khaliq, D. A., Nisar, Q. A., Kamboh, A. Z., & Ali, S. (2019). Impact of employees’ recognition, rewards and job stress on job performance: Mediating role of perceived organizational support. SEISENSE Journal of Management, 2(2), 69–82. https://doi.org/10.33215/sjom.v2i2.121

Kantor Staf Presiden. (2024, March 20). Survei JETRO: Perusahaan Jepang di Indonesia tertarik ekspansi, Moeldoko: Kita sambut baik. https://www.ksp.go.id/survei-jetro-perusahaan-jepang-di-indonesia-tertarik-ekspansi-moeldoko-kita-sambut-baik.html

Lussa, M. F., Sudiro, A., & Dwi Vata Hapsari, R. (2023). The effect of work motivation and work environment on employee performance through work engagement. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science, 12(9), 134–143. https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v12i9.3063

Mahimbo, A., & Mtamike, S. (2025). The impact of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation on job performance in Tanzania’s public sector. Journal of International Trade, Logistics and Law, 11(1), 211–22.

Masri, N. E., & Suliman, A. (2019). Talent management, employee recognition and performance in the research institutions. Studies in Business and Economics, 14(1), 127–140. https://doi.org/10.2478/sbe-2019-0010

Mohammad, S., Sağsan, M., & Sxes, H. (2024). The impact of learning organizations on innovation: The mediating role of employee resilience and work engagement. SAGE Open, 14(4), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241289185

Nilasari, B. M., Nisfiannoor, M., & Devinta, F. R. M. (2021). Changes in motivation that affect employee performance during the Covid-19 pandemic. Jurnal Aplikasi Manajemen, 19(2), 435–447. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jam.2021.019.02.19

OECD. (2019). OECD SME and entrepreneurship outlook 2019. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/34907e9c-en

Owoeye, I., Kiiru, D., & Muli, J. (2020). Recognition practices and employee performance: Understanding work engagement as a mediating pathway in Kenyan context. Journal of Human Resource Management, 8(3), 163–171. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jhrm.201200803.17

Rai, A., Ghosh, P., Chauhan, R., & Singh, R. (2018). Improving in role and extra role performances with rewards and recognition: Does engagement mediate the process? Management Research Review, 41(8), 902–919. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-12-2016-0280

Ramdhan, M. R. M., Baliartati, B. O., & Emilisa, N. (2025). Pengaruh organizational learning culture dan talent management terhadap employee performance yang dimediasi oleh employee engagement pada Bank Mandiri dan Bank BNI di Jakarta Barat. J-CEKI: Jurnal Cendekia Ilmiah, 4(3), 3203–3215.

Rasool, S. F., Mohelska, H., Rehman, F. U., Raza, H., & Asghar, M. Z. (2025). Exploring the nexus between a supportive workplace environment, employee engagement, and employee performance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Administrative Sciences, 15(6), 230. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15060230

Saks, A. M. (2006). Antecedents and consequences of employee engagement. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 21(6), 600–619. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940610690169

Sangperm, N., Jermsittiparsert, K., & Jermsittiparsert, K. (2019). The effect of organizational learning culture, physical workplace environment, employee trust, and employee satisfaction on employee performance of Thailand pharmaceutical industry. Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, 10(2), 303–312. https://doi.org/10.5530/srp.2019.2.41

Saputra, N. (2018). Does learning culture impact directly or indirectly on work engagement in the Indonesia oil palm industry? International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7(3.30), 561–566.

Schaufeli, W. B., Bakker, A. B., & Salanova, M. (2006). The measurement of work engagement with a short questionnaire: A cross-national study. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 66(4), 701–716. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164405282471

Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research methods for business: A skill-building approach (7th ed.). Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons.

Setiawan, I., Ismawati, K., & Halik, A. (2025). Systematic review of employee performance. Business Management, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.58258/bisnis.v4i2.8653

Song, J., Lim, D., Kang, I., & Kim, W. (2014). Team performance in learning organizations: Mediating effect of employee engagement. The Learning Organization, 21(5), 290–309. https://doi.org/10.1108/TLO-07-2012-0049

Udin, U., Dharma, R. D., Dananjoyo, R., & Shaikh, M. (2023). The role of transformational leadership on employee performance through organizational learning culture and intrinsic work motivation. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 18(1), 237–246. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.180125

Van Breda-Verduijn, H., & Heijboer, M. (2016). Learning culture, continuous learning, and the organizational learning anthropologist. Industrial and Commercial Training, 48(3), 123–128. https://doi.org/10.1108/ICT-11-2015-0074

Varughese, B., & Rameshkumar, M. (2024). Validation of dimensions of learning organization questionnaire (DLOQ) for the Indian IT industry. International Journal of Educational Research, 127, Article 102384.

Velghe, C., McIlquham-Schmidt, A., Celik, P., Storme, M., & De Spiegelaere, S. (2024). Employee work motivation, effort, and performance under a merit pay system: A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 20, e70001. https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.70001

Xu, L., Wang, Z., Li, Z., Lin, Y., Wang, J., Wu, Y., & Tang, J. (2022). Mediation role of work motivation and job satisfaction between work-related basic need satisfaction and work engagement among doctors in China: A cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 12, e060599. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060599

Yang, T., Jiang, X., & Cheng, H. (2022). Employee recognition, task performance, and OCB: Mediated and moderated by pride. Sustainability, 14, 1631. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031631

Downloads

Published

2026-09-29

How to Cite

Elfida, F., Tanuwijaya, J., & Nilasari, B. M. (2026). Work Engagement as a Mediator of Learning Culture, Work Recognition, and Work Motivation on Employee Performance in Japanese Trading Companies . Jurnal Psikologi Teori Dan Terapan, 17(02), 204–216. https://doi.org/10.26740/jptt.v17n02.p204-216
Abstract views: 0 , PDF Downloads: 0

Similar Articles

<< < > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.