Bolstering Transformation Delivery through Employee Engagement and Innovative Work Behaviour in Malaysia Public Services: A Conceptual Paper

Abstract

The debut of National Transformation 2050 validates that Malaysia is committed in standing tall amongst the developed nations. Over the years, numerous transformation programs have been introduced to enhance the wellbeing of the nation and its people. Among the agenda is to overcome challenges in public services delivery which include the improvement of services by the counter service team and frontliners as well as the enhancement of reliability and integrity, issues of productivity, and many more. Public servants are an important source of innovation for an organisation that needs to be continuously nurtured. To accelerate the outcome, engagement was reportedly found to be the key enabler for sustainable success in any change or transformational-related event. Fostering employee engagement will nurture many prodigious advantages such as augmenting people’s innovative mindset and will greatly enhance the likelihood for a successful transformation program to happen. Along with the derivation of theoretical concepts guided by Social Exchange Theory (SET), the proposed concept is further reinforced through the best practices obtained from developed countries that have adapted best practices in employee engagement and innovation. The critical key area to a developed nation is always the wellbeing of its public services. In shaping Malaysia to be one of the most prominent figures in the future, everyone needs to be a builder.

Keywords: Public Services, Transformation, Engagement, Innovation