Determinants of Employee Performance: Examining Knowledge Transfer, Training Quality, Organizational Commitment, and Work Motivation

Abstract

This study aims to examine the determinants of employee performance by analyzing the effects of knowledge transfer, training quality, organizational commitment, and work motivation within retail companies in the city of Medan. The research seeks to provide empirical evidence on how human resource practices and individual motivational factors jointly influence employee performance in a highly competitive retail environment. A quantitative research design was employed using a survey method. Data were collected from 220 employees working in retail companies in Medan through structured questionnaires. The measurement instruments were adapted from validated scales in prior studies. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied to test the measurement and structural models, ensuring construct validity, reliability, and hypothesis testing. Data analysis was conducted using AMOS software following established methodological guidelines. The results indicate that knowledge transfer, training quality, organizational commitment, and work motivation all have positive and significant effects on employee performance. Among these variables, work motivation shows the strongest influence, followed by knowledge transfer, training quality, and organizational commitment. The structural model demonstrates substantial explanatory power, confirming that the proposed framework effectively explains variations in employee performance in the retail sector. This study contributes to the human resource management literature by integrating Human Capital Theory and Social Exchange Theory within a comprehensive empirical model. The findings extend existing research by providing context-specific evidence from the retail industry in an emerging economy. Practically, the study offers actionable insights for retail managers in designing effective knowledge-sharing systems, training programs, and motivational strategies to enhance employee performance.