The Mediating Role of Affective Commitment in the Relationship between Communication, Achievement Motivation, and Employee Performance

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates the mediating role of affective commitment in the relationship between communication, achievement motivation, and employee performance in a professional inspection and certification service company in Balikpapan, Indonesia.
Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research design was developed using a survey method. Data were collected from 127 employees and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4. Measurement and structural models were assessed to examine reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and hypothesis testing through bootstrapping.
Findings
The results demonstrated that communication and achievement motivation have significantly positive effects on employee performance. Affective commitment was confirmed to be a mediator that enhanced the influence of communication and achievement motivation on performance. The model showed adequate measurement validity and reliability, with R² values indicating moderate-to-strong explanatory power.
Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature by extending social exchange theory and organizational commitment theory, highlighting affective commitment as a critical psychological mechanism that links communication and achievement motivation to performance.
Practical implications
The findings emphasize the importance of strengthening internal communication, fostering achievement-oriented motivation, and reinforcing affective commitment to enhance employee performance in professional service organizations.