The mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between organizational memory and workforce agility according to opinions of academic staff

The main aim of the study is to examine the mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between organizational memory and workforce agility according to opinions of academic staff. The correlational design, one of quantitative research designs, was implemented. The sample of the study consisted of 557 academic staff who work at Anadolu University, Eskisehir Osmangazi University and Eskisehir Teknik University in Eskisehir and they were chosen by using stratified sampling method. Data of the study were collected with "Workforce Agility Scale", "Organizational Memory Scale", "Work Engagement Scale" and "Personal Information Form". Workforce Agility Scale was developed by the researcher by utilizing qualitative and quantitative methods together. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA), correlation analyses, hierarchical regression analyses, structural equation modelling (SEM) and bootstrapping method. According to results of the structural equation modelling, indirect effect of organizational memory on workforce agility with the partial mediation of work engagement was confirmed. Bootstrapping method showed that this indirect effect is statistically significant. Besides, results of the study indicate that opinions of academic staff on research variables are high and relationships between these variables are moderate, positive and statistically significant. Lastly, findings related with demographics features revealed that there are statistically significant differences among opinions of academic staff on organizational memory, work engagement and workforce agility according to their ages and academic titles. Keyword: Organizational memory, Work engagement, Workforce agility, Higher education institutions, Structural equation modelling.