Enhancing MSME Performance: Optimizing Work Engagement and Knowledge Sharing
Keywords:
Keywords: Work Engagement,Knowledge Sharing, and PerfomanceAbstract
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) play a crucial role in economic growth and job creation. However, their performance is often constrained by internal challenges, particularly in areas such as work engagement and knowledge sharing. While previous research has recognized the importance of these factors in business success, their combined impact on MSME performance remains underexplored, especially in developing economies like Indonesia. This study aims to address this gap by examining the extent to which work engagement and knowledge sharing influence MSME performance. A quantitative research design was employed, collecting data from 90 MSME owners in Medan City. The hypothesis testing results confirm that work engagement and knowledge sharing both have a significant positive effect on MSME performance. Businesses with high owner engagement and active knowledge sharing exhibit higher operational efficiency and improved decision-making, leading to superior overall performance. However, the findings also highlight key barriers such as limited communication infrastructure, lack of trust, and leadership constraints, which may hinder the effective implementation of these factors. To overcome these challenges, MSMEs should foster an inclusive work environment, invest in employee development, and leverage digital tools for knowledge sharing. This study provides valuable insights for MSME owners and policymakers to enhance business sustainability through better engagement and collaboration. Future research should explore the moderating role of digital transformation and leadership styles in strengthening the relationship between work engagement, knowledge sharing, and MSME performance.
References
Afiani, S., & Wijaya, R. S. (2024). Pengaruh Keterlibatan Karyawan, Keberlangsungan Financial, Biaya Operasional, Dan Digital Branding Terhadap Kinerja Umkm Padang Timur. Jurnal Akuntansi Keuangan dan Bisnis, 1(4), 874-880.
Aji, F., & Wijaya, A. N. (2023). Employee engagement: a literature review: Keterlibatan karyawan: penelusuran literatur. Psikologia: Jurnal Pemikiran dan Penelitian Psikologi, 18(2), 148-163.
Albrecht, S. L., Bakker, A. B., Gruman, J. A., Macey, W. H., & Saks, A. M. (2015). Employee engagement, human resource management practices and competitive advantage: An integrated approach. Journal of organizational effectiveness: People and performance, 2(1), 7-35.
Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2008). Towards a model of work engagement. Career development international, 13(3), 209-223.
Chen, D. C., Chen, D. F., Huang, S. M., Huang, M. J., Shyr, W. J., & Chiou, C. F. (2021). Critical success factors to improve the business performance of tea drink chains. Sustainability, 13(16), 8953.
Corral de Zubielqui, G., Lindsay, N., Lindsay, W., & Jones, J. (2019). Knowledge quality, innovation and firm performance: a study of knowledge transfer in SMEs. Small Business Economics, 53, 145-164.
Davenport, T. H. (1998). Working knowledge: How organizations manage what they know. NewYork Harvard Business School.
Ghazwani, S. S., & Alzahrani, S. (2024). The use of social media platforms for competitive information and knowledge sharing and its effect on SMEs’ profitability and growth through innovation. Sustainability, 16(1), 106.
Hislop, D. (2013). Knowledge Management in Organizations: A Critical Introduction. Oxford University Press.
Humaira, I., & Sagoro, E. M. (2018). Pengaruh Pengetahuan Keuangan, Sikap Keuangan, dan Kepribadian Terhadap Perilaku Manajemen Keuangan Pada Pelaku UMKM Sentra Kerajinan Batik Kabupaten Bantul. Jurnal Nominal, 7(1), 96–108.
Khan, I.T., Jam, A.F., Akbar, A., Khan, B.M., & Hijazi, T.S. (2011). Job Involvement as Predictor of Employee Commitment: Evidence from Pakistan. International Journal of Business and Management, 6(4), 252-262
Kim, W., Kolb, J. A., & Kim, T. (2013). The relationship between work engagement and performance: A review of empirical literature and a proposed research agenda. Human resource development review, 12(3), 248-276.
Kwon, K., & Kim, T. (2020). An integrative literature review of employee engagement and innovative behavior: Revisiting the JD-R model. Human resource management review, 30(2), 100704.
Lelani, S., Haqq, Z. N., & Firdaus, F. (2024). Impact of Techno Overload Work Performance and Work Engagement as Intervening Variables in Semarang City SMEs. Jurnal Manajerial, 11(03), 420-435.
Mulyana, A. R., Rofaida, R., & Sojanah, J. (2024). Knowledge Sharing dalam Organisasi: Tinjauan Sistematis. Ekonomis: Journal of Economics and Business, 8(1), 718-728.
Ng, W., & Rieple, A. (2014). Special issue on “The role of networks in entrepreneurial performance: new answers to old questions?” Guest Editors' Introduction. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 10, 447-455.
Nonaka, I. (2009). The knowledge-creating company. In The economic impact of knowledge (pp. 175-187). Routledge.
Robbins, S., Judge, T. A., Millett, B., & Boyle, M. (2013). Organisational behaviour. Pearson Higher Education AU.
Safitri, L. A. (2022). Peran Digital Knowledge Sharing dan Work Engagement Terhadap Organizational Performance Melalui Innovation Capability (Master's thesis, Universitas Islam Sultan Agung (Indonesia).
Saks, A. M. (2006). Antecedents and consequences of employee engagement. Journal of managerial psychology, 21(7), 600-619.
Schaufeli, W. B., Bakker, A. B., & Salanova, M. (2006). The measurement of work engagement with a short questionnaire: A cross-national study. Educational and psychological measurement, 66(4), 701-716.
Schaufeli, W. B., Salanova, M., González-Romá, V., & Bakker, A. B. (2002). The measurement of engagement and burnout: A two-sample confirmatory factor analytic approach. Journal of Happiness Studies, 3(1), 71-92.
Serenko, A., & Bontis, N. (2016). Understanding counterproductive knowledge behavior: antecedents and consequences of intra-organizational knowledge hiding. Journal of knowledge management, 20(6), 1199-1224.
Srinivas, K., & Yasmeen, S. (2017). A study on employee engagement in small and medium enterprises in digital economy. Millennial Workforce-A Contemplation, 57-64.
Suseno, B., Ernita, E., Dewi, M., & Ilham, M. (2022). Successful Business And Entrepreneur Skills (Empiric Study of MSME Food and Beverage Industry in Lubuk Pakam). Journal of Management, Economic and Accounting (JMEA), 9-16.
Suseno, B., & Dewi, M. Reviving Organizational Commitment: The Role of Job Satisfaction, Transformational Leadership, and Work-Life Balance.
Tambunan, T. (2019). Recent evidence of the development of micro, small and medium enterprises in Indonesia. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 9(1), 18.
Tensay, A. T., & Singh, M. (2020). The nexus between HRM, employee engagement and organizational performance of federal public service organizations in Ethiopia. Heliyon, 6 (6), e04094.
Palimbong, Resky at all (2024). The Effect Of Job Training, Employee Involvement, And Work Experience On Employee Performance Of Barbershop UMKM In Rantepao District, North Toraja Regency. Management Studies and Entrepreneurship Journal. Vol 5(2) 2024: 8855-8862
Permata, R., Indrawijaya, S., & Solikhin, A. (2023). Pengaruh Knowledge Sharing Terhadap Kinerja UKM Di Kota Jambi Melalui Perilaku Kerja Inovatif. Jurnal Manajemen Terapan dan Keuangan, 12(2), 348-361.
Wang, S., & Noe, R. A. (2010). Knowledge sharing: A review and directions for future research. Human resource management review, 20(2), 115-131.
Wang, Z., & Wang, N. (2012). Knowledge sharing, innovation and firm performance. Expert systems with applications, 39(10), 8899-8908.









