Innovation Strategies for Sustainable Development: Work Engagement and Organizational Civic Behaviors in Public Universities of Zacatecas

Abstract

ABSTRACT

 Context. Higher educational institutions in Mexico intensely involve human interaction and the willingness to provide quality educational services, therefore, it is essential to study the organizational behaviors of university workers within their work environment. 

Problem. The positive and satisfactory mental state when doing work (engagement) and organizational civic behaviors are rarely measurable in higher level institutions in Mexico. What is the level of impact between work engagement and organizational civic behaviors in the staff of two public universities in Zacatecas, Mexico?

Purpose. Identify how work engagement (WE) has impacted in relation to organizational civic behaviors (OCB) in the personal of two public universities in Zacatecas, Mexico, generating knowledge in the areas of organizational behavior and administration and contributing to objectives 4 and 16 of sustainable development.

Methodology. From a total population of 390 workers from the two universities, a sample of 280 university workers was obtained, 145 corresponding to teaching staff and 135 to administrative staff. The sampling method, used non-probabilistic for convenience. The validation of the questionnaire was verified using Cronbach's Alpha. The data analysis technique was Spearman correlation (rho). From March to May 2024 the form was applied.

Theoretical and Practical Findings. In the theory, it was proven that the degree of engagement of university workers has a favorable impact on the set of spontaneous and pro-social discretionary behaviors in university workers. In administrative practice, this association shows the relevance of complying with and promoting prosocial behaviors in favor of educational institutions.

Originality. The relationship between the (WE) and the (OCB) has an important impact on the quality of university workers; here the social and administrative sciences converge. Contributing to sustainable development goals in the “culture of quality education” (SDG4) and (SDG16) “creating effective, responsible and inclusive and strengthened institutions”.

Conclusions and limitations. It is concluded that a constant positive and satisfactory mental state when doing work can be a reliable predictor of the appearance or the tendency to appreciate other prosocial behaviors in organizations.  Being a limitation is to extrapolate the results to other conditions or sectors and adapt the instruments for obtaining information to a greater extent to national conditions. The conclusions allow for the promotion of organizational actions in universities that impact the prosocial behaviors of their members and the improvement of higher education.