Explaining a New Model of Human Resource Empowerment Based on the Development of Technical Skills (Case Study: Automotive Industry)
Keywords:
Human Resource Empowerment, Automotive Industry, Saipa Automotive CompanyAbstract
This study aimed to design and explain a novel model of human resource empowerment in the automotive industry based on the development of technical skills using a mixed-method approach. This applied research adopted a mixed qualitative–quantitative design. In the qualitative phase, a grounded theory approach was employed through semi-structured interviews with 15 experts in public and industrial management and automotive industry managers, resulting in 143 initial codes organized into 34 axial categories through open, axial, and selective coding. In the quantitative phase, the statistical population consisted of 10,600 employees and managers of Saipa Automotive Company, from which 375 participants were selected using simple random sampling based on the Morgan table. Data were collected using a researcher-developed 153-item Likert-scale questionnaire. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS and LISREL software, applying structural equation modeling to evaluate the measurement and structural models. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated an acceptable model fit (RMSEA ranging from 0.041 to 0.083; GFI, AGFI, and NFI values above 0.90). Convergent and discriminant validity were confirmed using the Fornell–Larcker matrix. Structural analysis demonstrated that human resource empowerment is significantly and positively influenced by five core dimensions: causal factors, contextual factors, intervening conditions, effective strategies, and executive consequences. The interrelationships among these dimensions were statistically significant, supporting the proposed conceptual framework. The results suggest that developing technical skills within a comprehensive, multidimensional framework provides a coherent mechanism for empowering human resources in the automotive sector, enhancing organizational performance through the integration of enabling conditions, contextual support, strategic interventions, and measurable executive outcomes.
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