TECHNOLOGY READINESS INDEX (TRI) AND ADAPTIVE PERFORMANCE (AP) AMONG MYSTEP EMPLOYEES: THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF WORK ENGAGEMENT (WE)

Malaysia's Short-Term Employment Programme (MySTEP) is one of the government initiatives designed to offer short-term employment opportunities and enhancing the marketability of its citizens across various sectors. One of the goals of the MySTEP program is to help members acquire professional skills and find employment in digital fields. The transformation toward digitalization requires employees’ readiness to adapt faster in performing their new tasks, which is one of the Adaptive Performances (AP) dimensions. AP can measure employees’ performance in uncertain work environments and their readiness to adopt digital technology using the Technology Readiness Index measurement scale. However, an individual’s tendency to utilize technology in this era depends on their work engagement level. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between the Technology Readiness Index (TRI), Work Engagement (WE), and AP among MySTEP employees in Malaysia. 297 out of 331 questionnaires were collected online and assisted by the branch manager in each region. The data was analysed using PLS-SEM. Results reveals a significant relationship between the TRI and AP. The four variables of TRI influence AP among MySTEP employees. The study confirmed that TRI generally could influence WE. The study also confirmed the mediating effect of WE on the relationship between TRI and AP. These findings can drive organizations to provide more exposure to technological advancement within their organization.