Training & Development, Organizational Commitment and Turnover Intentions in SMEs

Abstract

Training and development is an important tool for motivating employees and increasing organizational performance. Therefore, we have developed a new model in which we have empirically tested four direct relationships, three mediating relationships, and one moderating effect. We have collected the data from selected SMEs in Karachi. A total of 410 questionnaires were distributed, and 385 valid responses were available. The instrument was adapted from earlier studies. We have used Smart PLS for data analysis. Of the four direct hypotheses, we found support for two of them. Similarly, we only found support for one indirect hypothesis and no support for the moderating relationship. The study found that antecedents “availability of training and managerial support for training” stimulate organizational commitment. However, we did not find any support for the “association between motivation to learn and organizational commitment” in Karachi SMEs. In contrast to earlier literature, we found that “organizational commitment stimulates turnover intentions.” Organizational commitment mediates (1) availability of training and turnover intentions, and (2) managerial support and turnover intentions. However, the study did not support organizational commitment’s mediating role on motivation to learn and turnover intentions. Similarly, constituent attachment did not have a moderating effect in our study.

Keywords

• turnover intentions
• organizational commitment
• constituent attachment
• training and development