The Influence of Perceptions of Promotion Opportunities on Job Performance and Its Mechanisms: A Case Study of Chinese Junior Civil Servants

Although existing literature has stressed the influences of various factors on job performance, the influence of the perceptions of promotion opportunities on job performance is frequently disregarded in the majority of studies on public sector human resource management. Using the survey data from Chinese junior civil servants, the study revealed that perceptions of promotion opportunities can directly influence both task performance and contextual performance, and perceptions of promotion opportunities can strengthen task performance and contextual performance by the mediating role of job engagement. It was also indicated that perceptions of promotion opportunities were influenced by rank, supervisor-subordinate relationships, and promotion justice. Thus, the study developed a conceptual framework that included the variables laid-above to understand the mechanisms of the influence of perceptions of promotion opportunities on job performance.

Automated summary

While studies have highlighted the influences of various factors on job performance, the impact of perceptions of promotion opportunities is often overlooked in public sector human resource management research. This study based on Chinese junior civil servants found that perceptions of promotion opportunities can directly influence task and contextual performance, and can enhance performance through job engagement mediation. Additionally, rank, supervisor-subordinate relationships, and promotion justice were identified as factors influencing perceptions of promotion opportunities. A conceptual framework was developed to understand the mechanisms of this influence on job performance.