Soft skills and employee productivity: current status and proposal for an impact model
Main Article Content
Keywords
Employee productivity, labor productivity , soft skills, employability, structural equation modeling
Abstract
This study examines the impact of critical soft skills on employee productivity to support organizational performance through effective human resource management. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was employed to test the proposed model, which included an endogenous latent variable (employee productivity) and an exogenous variable (soft skills), based on data from 287 questionnaires. Results reveal a strong, significant relationship between soft skills and employee productivity. Key soft skills identified were communication, problem-solving, and teamwork; significant factors influencing productivity included staff training, technological innovation, and the work environment. The findings contribute to the limited literature on soft skills as drivers of human and organizational development by offering empirical evidence of their positive impact on productivity. This research highlights the strategic value of soft skills in shaping a development model that enhances employee performance and supports organizational sustainability. The model provides a practical framework for companies seeking to improve productivity through targeted soft skill development initiatives.
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References
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Dabke, D. (2016). Soft skills as a predictor of perceived internship effectiveness and permanent placement opportunity. The IUP Journal of Soft Skills, IX(4), 26-42.
Darvishmotevali, M., Altinay, L., & Koseoglu, M. (2020). The link between environmentaluncertainty, organizational agility, and organizational creativity in the hotel industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 87. doi:10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102499
Davenport, T., & Prusak, L. (2000). Working Knowledge: How Organizations Manage What They know. Harvard Business School Press, 1-7.
Deepa, S., & Seth, M. (2013). Do soft skills matter? Implications for educators based on recruiters’ perspective. IUP Journal of Soft Skills, 7, 7-20.
Deming, D. (2017). The growing importance of social skills in the labor market. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 132(4), 1593-1640. doi:10.1093/qje/qjx022
Farooq, R., & Sultana, A. (2021). The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on work from home and employee productivity. j MEASURING BUSINESS EXCELLENCE j, 26(3), 308-325.
Gamal Aboelmaged, M. (2017). Knowledge sharing through enterprise social network (ESN) systems: motivational drivers and their impact on employees’ productivity. JOURNAL OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT, 22(2362-383). doi:10.1108/JKM-05-2017-0188
Gibson, L., & Sodeman, W. (2014). Millennials and technology: addressing the communication gap in education and practice. Organization Development Journal, 32(4), 63-75.
Gruber, L., Barni de Campos, D., Pereira, D., Hansch, F., & Borges, A. (2022). Training to develop soft skills for engineering students. Academic Journals, 17(4), 57-72. doi:10.5897/SRE2022.6753
Hair, F., Andreson, R., Tatham, R., & Black, W. (1995). Multivariate Data Analysis with Readings (Vol. 4th ed). London: Prentice-Hall.
Harris, E., & Fleming, D. (2017). The productive service employee: personality, stress, satisfaction and performance. Journal of Services Marketing, 31(6), 499-511.
Haynes, B. (2007). Office productivity: a theoretical framework. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, 9(2), 97-110.
Igudia, P. (2021). Evaluating organisational change and employee productivity in Nigeria: a case study of Union Bank, Plc. European Scientifc Journal, 17(19), 208-229. doi:10.19044/esj.2021.v17n19p208
Infante-Alcántara, L., Araiza-Vázquez, M., & López-Pérez, J. (2023). Competencias blandas que influyen en la empleabilidad laboral de profesionistas egresados de ingeniería de una universidad del Norte de México. Formación Universitaria, 16(2), 1-12.
International Labour organization. (2014). Labour productivity. International Labour organization.
Kasten, A. (2014). Winning the war for talent with soft skills. Graduate Management News, 1-6.
Kelloway, E. (1998). Using LISREL for Structural Equation Modeling: A Researcher’s Guide. CA: SAGE.
Kumar, V., & Sharma, P. (2018). Leadership styles and their relationship with TQM focus for Indian firms: an empirical investigation. International Journal ofProductivity and Performance Managemenrt, 67(6), 1063-1088.
Larepublica. (4 de noviembre de 2022). Diario LaRepublica. Obtenido de https://www.larepublica.co/especiales/el-futuro-de-las-mipyme/ocho-de-cada-10-empleos-son-creados-por-una-mipyme-3482995
Larepublica. (30 de mayo de 2023). Diario la república. Obtenido de https://www.larepublica.co/economia/bogota-antioquia-y-valle-del-cauca-concentraron-casi-50-del-pib-del-ano-pasado-3626253
Mahfud, T., Jati, B., & Mulyani, Y. (2017). SOFT SKILL COMPETENCY MAP FOR THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME IN THE INDONESIAN BALIKPAPAN HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. Journal of Technical Education and Training, 9(2), 16-34.
Manullang, M. (2017). The effect of soft skills, competence, and human relations skills on principal leadership. International Journal of academic research in economics and management sciences, 6(4), 14-27.
Minbaeva, D., & Collings, D. (2013). Seven myths of global talent management. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 24(9), 1762-1776.
Mohammad, J., Quoquab, F., Halimah, S., & Thurasamy, R. (2019). Workplace internet leisure and employees’ productivity. Internet Research, 29(4), 725-748. doi:10.1108/IntR-05-2017-0191
Namdarian, L., Sajedinejad, A., & Bahanesteh, S. (2020). The Impact of Knowledge Management on Organizational Performance: A Structural Equation Modeling Study. AD-MINISTER, 37(4), 85-108. doi:https://doi.org/10.17230/
Namora, M., Zunaida, D., & Widayawati, E. (2023). THE INFLUENCE OF SOFT SKILLS AND HARD SKILLS ON THE PERFORMANCE. International Journal of Entrepreneur and Business Administration, 1(1), 89-99.
Nezu, R. (2001). Measuring Productivity OECD Manual. Paris: OECD.
Northeastern Global News. (3 de Octubre de 2014). Most business leaders believe innovation is critical for US colleges to remain globally competitive. Obtenido de https://news.northeastern.edu/2014/04/28/survey-innovation-higher-education/
Nwankpa, J., & Roumani, Y. (2024). Remote work, employee productivity and innovation: the moderating roles of knowledge sharing and digital business intensity. JOURNAL OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT, 28(6), 1793-1818. doi:10.1108/JKM-12-2022-0967
OECD. (2018). Compendium of Productivity Indicators 2018. En OECD, Labour productivity (págs. 40-41). Paris: OECD.
Olarinre Oladokun, S., & Taiwo Gbadegesin, J. (2017). Adequacy of core knowledge and soft skills in the performance of professional employees of real estate firms in Nigeria. Property Management, 35(2), 132-149. doi:10.1108/PM-02-2016-0008
Olekanma, O., Harrison, C., Oyewunmi, A., & Adedeji, O. (2024). The dilemma of employee productivity measures and managerialism practices: an empirical exploration. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 1-26. doi:10.1108/IJPPM-01-2023-003
Ott, R., & Longnecker, M. (2015). An Introduction to Statistical Methods and Data Analysis,. New York: Nelson Education.
Paunescu, C., Acatrinei, C., Argatu, R., McGUIRE, S., & Zhang, Y. (2024). EMPLOYABILITY, PROACTIVENESS AND WORKPLACE BEHAVIORS: IS SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS A MEDIATOR? JOURNAL of BUSINESS ECONOMICS & MANAGEMENT, 25(1), 47-65.
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Jun 30, 2025
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Muñoz, F. A., Pulido Reina, J. S., & Aguilar, D. C. (2025). Soft skills and employee productivity: current status and proposal for an impact model. AD-Minister, (46), 127–152. https://doi.org/10.17230/ Ad-minister.46.6
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Author Biographies
Fernando Andrés Muñoz, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada
Industrial Engineer from Universidad Militar Nueva Granada; Specialist in Integral Project Management from Universidad Militar Nueva Granada; MBA in Project Management from Universidad Viña del Mar, Chile. Professor - Researcher at the Universidad Militar Nueva Granada. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3670-8102
Jason Steve Pulido Reina, Universidad Viña del Mar
Business Administrator from Universidad Nacional de Colombia; Specialist in Integral Logistics Management from Universidad Militar Nueva Granada; MBA in Project Management from Universidad Viña del Mar, Chile. Professor - Researcher at the Universidad Militar Nueva Granada. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4111-0842
Diana Carolina Aguilar, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada
Master's student, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada. Graduate Research Assistant.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4302-3351
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