Exploring Need Satisfaction in IT Professionals: The Role of Employee Engagement in Flexible Work Arrangements using Fuzzy Delphi Method

Abstract

IT companies like Microsoft and Google have been investing in data centres in Malaysia from the start of 2024. However, IT professionals prefer working abroad due of the favourable currency rate. IT professionals have persistently embraced flexible work arrangements  since the pandemic, enabling businesses to access a wider talent pool and enhance employee retention more efficiently. The objective of this study is to investigate the employee engagement model among IT professionals who practise flexible work arrangements  and examine its influence on the satisfaction of their needs.  The study implements the Fuzzy Delphi method, employing a mixed method research approach. During the initial phase, a series of qualitative semi-structured interviews were carried out with 6 IT professionals who had over 5 years of job experience. The qualitative data was analysed using deductive thematic analysis to discover important themes associated with employee engagement and need satisfaction. During the second phase, a questionnaire was handed out to 10 IT professionals who have over 10 years of working experiences. The purpose was to validate the findings and reach a consensus on the discovered factors. The findings provide strong proof of expert consensus, with a 75% agreement rate on all factors relevant to employee engagement and need satisfaction. These findings suggest that the elements listed are crucial for improving the fulfilment of needs among IT professionals in the context of flexible work arrangements. The study offers useful information to organisations, allowing them to build more strategic strategies for involving IT professionals in flexible work arrangements. Overall, this research contributes to the existing literature on employee engagement and need satisfaction in the context of flexible work arrangement, particularly within the Malaysian ICT industry.