A Structural Equation Model on Employee Performance in Relation to Work Environment, Communication and Positive Personality Traits: Evidence in National Government Agencies

Abstract

This study examined the structural relationships among work environment, communication environment, personality traits, and employee performance in National Government Agencies in the Davao Region, Philippines. Specifically, it aimed to determine the levels of work environment, communication environment, personality traits, and employee performance; assess their relationships and influence; and identify the best-fit structural equation model explaining employee performance. A quantitative, non-experimental correlational research design utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed. Data were collected from 410 employees from Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs) and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) through validated survey instruments. Results revealed that work environment, communication environment, personality traits, and employee performance were generally rated high to very high. Significant relationships were found among the study variables. Regression analysis showed that personality traits emerged as the strongest predictor of employee performance, followed by communication environment, while work environment did not significantly predict performance when combined with the other variables. Furthermore, SEM analysis identified Model 3 as the best-fit structural model, demonstrating excellent goodness-of-fit indices and confirming that employee performance was influenced by interconnected organizational and behavioral factors. The study concluded that employee performance in National Government Agencies was best explained by the combined influence of communication processes, personality traits, employee engagement, and organizational resources. The findings contribute to public administration and human resource management by providing an evidence-based framework for enhancing workforce effectiveness and organizational performance in government institutions.