Employee Engagement as Predictor of Organizational Performance of Banana Plantation

Abstract

This study examined employee engagement as a predictor of organizational performance in banana plantations in Taytayan, Cateel, Davao Oriental. Recognizing the critical role of human resources in agricultural productivity, the study investigated how key dimensions of employee engagement are work engagement, employee communication, employee commitment, discretionary effort, and meaningfulness of work affect organizational performance in terms of staff motivation, working environment, training and development, and management practices. A quantitative descriptive–correlational research design was employed. Data were collected from 222 full-time plantation employees selected through simple random sampling using adapted Likert-scale questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis. The findings revealed that both employee engagement (M = 1.71) and organizational performance (M = 1.68) were rated very high across all indicators. Correlation analysis showed a strong, positive, and statistically significant relationship between employee engagement and organizational performance (r = 0.766, p < 0.001). Furthermore, regression analysis confirmed that employee engagement significantly predicts organizational performance (β = 0.766, t = 17.678, p < 0.001). The study concludes that fostering meaningful work, effective communication, and employee commitment is essential for sustaining high organizational performance. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening engagement-driven human resource strategies, including recognition systems, leadership communication, and continuous training, to enhance productivity, employee retention, and long-term organizational sustainability in agricultural enterprises.