CULTURAL DIMENSIONS MODERATING WORK MOTIVATION AND ENGAGEMENT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GENERATION Z EMPLOYEES IN CHINA AND INDONESIA
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Abstract
This study examines how cultural dimensions moderate work motivation-engagement relationships among Generation Z employees in China and Indonesia. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed using validated scales (MWMS, UWES-9, IWoRC) with 619 Generation Z employees (China: n=397; Indonesia: n=222) from a multinational automotive manufacturer. Structural equation modeling and multi-group analysis tested the hypothesized relationships.
It was demonstrated that work motivation strongly influences work engagement (β=0.678, p<0.001, R²=0.571). All four cultural dimensions-gender egalitarianism, power distance, status attribution, and universalism-particularism-significantly moderate this relationship. Multi-group analysis reveals distinct cultural patterns: gender egalitarianism significantly moderates the motivation-engagement relationship in China (β=0.153, p=0.021) but not Indonesia (β=-0.028, p=0.730), while power distance shows significant effects in Indonesia (β=0.302, p=0.006) but not China (β=0.072, p=0.298). Status attribution demonstrates positive moderation in Indonesia (β=0.152, p=0.007), and universalism-particularism shows significant effects in China (β=0.197, p=0.008).
These findings advance Self-Determination Theory by demonstrating cross-cultural applicability while revealing important cultural contingencies. The study provides multinational organizations with evidence-based strategies for enhancing Generation Z employee engagement through culturally-calibrated approaches: implementing gender-balanced leadership initiatives in China, establishing hierarchical structures with consultation frameworks in Indonesia, and developing recognition systems that acknowledge both individual achievement and collective contributions. This research contributes to cross-cultural management literature by examining dynamic moderating effects of cultural values on workplace processes, moving beyond static country comparisons.
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