Methodological Validation of an HRM–Performance Measurement Instrument: A Pilot Study in Malaysian Local Government
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/jas.v23i3.10578Keywords:
Feasibility, Local Government, Pilot Study, Reliability, ValidityAbstract
The role of Human Resource Management (HRM) in impacting public sector performance is recognised globally; however, only a small number of empirical research tools exist to measure HRM practice within Malaysian local governments. This study investigates the reliability, validity, and usability of context-based performance measurement for HRM through a new assessment tool. The performance measurement tool was developed using the JD-R model and informed by the following theories: Transfer of Training, Person-Job Fit, Career Anchor and Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, with application to Training, Job Fit, Career Development and Satisfaction. In this study, a cross-sectional survey was administered to 30 employees at MPKL in Malaysia. Content validity was assessed through expert reviews and participant feedback regarding the clarity and relevance of each item. Reliability of internal consistency was determined by Cronbach’s alpha; feasibility was assessed based on completion rates, average response time, and univariate normality of item distributions. Results indicated high internal consistency (α = 0.75–0.98) and content validity (S-CVI/Ave = 0.98). All scales met normality criteria, with a 100% completion rate and an average response time of 17 minutes. These results support the appropriateness of the instrument as a research tool for future studies within Malaysian local governments contexts.
References
A Rahman, Z., Abdullah, N., Osman, N. D., Awang@Ali, M. N., & Umar, N. S. (2021). Reliability and validity of an instrument to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practice towards measures for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in Malaysia: A pilot study. Ulum Islamiyyah, 33(3), 82–90. https://doi.org/10.33102/uij.vol33no3.363
Babbie, E. (2020). The practice of social research (15th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Bahardin, T. M. I., Alias, Z., & Abdullah, M. (2019). A systematic review of the issues affecting local government in Malaysia. Journal of Advanced Research in Business and Management Studies, 15(1), 33–40. https://akademiabaru.com/submit/index.php/arbms/article/view/1330
Bahry, S., Diana, F., Masrom, M., & Masrek, M. N. (2021). Measuring validity and reliability of website credibility factors in influencing user engagement questionnaire. International Journal of Web Information Systems, 17(1), 18–28. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWIS-08-2020-0050
Baldwin, T. T., & Ford, J. K. (1988). Transfer of training: A review and directions for future research. Personnel Psychology, 41(1), 63–105. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1988.tb00632.x
Bryson, A., & White, M. (2021). High-performance work systems and the performance of public sector workplaces in Britain. Oxford Economic Papers, 73(3), 1057–1076. https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpab004
Bujang, M. A., Omar, E. D., Foo, D. H. P., & Hon, Y. K. (2024). Sample size determination for conducting a pilot study to assess reliability of a questionnaire. Restorative Dentistry & Endodontics, 49(1). https://doi.org/10.5395/rde.2024.49.e3
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
Crocco, O. S., & Tkachenko, O. (2020). Regional human resource development: The case of Southeast Asia and ASEAN. Human Resource Development International, 25(1), 40–58. https://doi.org/10.1080/13678868.2020.1858261
Demerouti, E., Bakker, A. B., Nachreiner, F., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2001). The job demands-resources model of burnout. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(3), 499–512. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.86.3.499
Demo, G., Costa, A. C. R., & Coura, K. V. (2024). HRM practices in the public service: A measurement model. RAUSP Management Journal, 59(1), 50–66. https://doi.org/10.1108/RAUSP-01-2023-0005
Economic Planning Unit (EPU). (2023). Mid-term review of the Twelfth Malaysia Plan 2021–2025: Chapter 2 – Enhancing efficiency of public service delivery [Government report]. Kementerian Ekonomi. https://rmke12.ekonomi.gov.my/ksp/storage/fileUpload/2023/09/2023091108_3_chapter_2.pdf
Economic Planning Unit (EPU). (2025). Thirteenth Malaysia Plan (13MP) 2026–2030 – Reshaping development [Government report]. Kementerian Ekonomi. https://rmk13.ekonomi.gov.my/
Fink, A. (2013). How to conduct surveys: A step-by-step guide (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
Greenhaus, J. H., & Callanan, G. A. (2012). Career management (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
Hair, J. F., Anderson, R. E., Tatham, R. L., & Black, W. C. (2018). Multivariate data analysis (8th ed.). Pearson Education.
Harding, A. (2022). A baseline study of local government in West Malaysia (NUS Law Working Paper No. 2022/014; NUS Centre for Asian Legal Studies Working Paper 22/01) [Working paper]. National University of Singapore. https://law.nus.edu.sg/cals/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/09/CALS-WPS-2201.pdf
Hashim, R. M., & Ahmad, J. (2020). Validity and reliability of scales on the implementation of evaluation in measuring its antecedents and consequences in the Malaysian public sector. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 10(1), 264–292. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v10-i1/6850
Herzberg, F. (1959). The motivation to work. John Wiley & Sons.
Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA). (2025). Dasar Pembangunan Bakat Perkhidmatan Awam [Government policy]. Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam. https://www.jpa.gov.my/perkhidmatan/surat-edaran/surat-edaran-pekeliling-perkhidmatan-sumber-manusia-ppsm-sm-1-dasar-pembangunan-bakat-perkhidmatan-awam
Kementerian Perumahan Kerajaan Tempatan (KPKT). (2022). Rangka kerja pemerkasaan pihak berkuasa tempatan (RKPBT) 2022–2030 [Government policy]. https://www.kpkt.gov.my/kpkt/resources/user_1/MENGENAI%20KPKT/DASAR/RKPBT_KPKT_24122021.pdf
Kristof-Brown, A. L., Zimmerman, R. D., & Johnson, E. C. (2005). Consequences of individuals’ fit at work: A meta-analysis of person-job, person-organization, person-group, and person-supervisor fit. Personnel Psychology, 58(2), 281–342. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2005.00672.x
Majlis Perbandaran Kuala Langat (MPKL). (2021). Pelan Strategik Majlis Perbandaran Kuala Langat 2021–2025 [Strategic plan]. https://mpkl.gov.my/muatturun/penerbitan/pelan-strategik-mpkl-2021-2025/346-buku-pelan-strategik-mpkl-tahun-2021-2025/file
Masilamani, R., Bulgiba, A., & Chinna, K. (2025). Psychometric validation of the Bahasa Malaysia version of the organisational and operational police stress questionnaires. Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 25(1), 72–80. https://mjphm.org/index.php/mjphm/article/view/3201
Matthews, K. (2024). Local government in the Federation of Malaysia—A comparative context. Australasian Parliamentary Review, 39(2), 167–183. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.T2024120100003090156603569
Mohamad Hadzar, J., Che Soh, M., & Yusof, R. (2026). Optimizing Job Performance through HRM practices: A Conceptual Framework for Local Government in Malaysia. Journal of Administrative Science. 23(2), 142-166.
Mohamad, M. H., Yahya, K. K., & Daud, Z. (2015). The effect of perceived human resources management practices on employees’ good governance: A pilot study in Malaysian local government authorities. International Journal of Management Sciences, 5(12), 785–794.
Mohd Noor, N. H., & Mohamad Fuzi, A. (2025). Assessment of validity, reliability, and normality in quantitative study: A survey instrument analysis with IBM SPSS [Conference presentation]. 8th ASNet International Multidisciplinary Academic Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. https://doi.org/10.55057/ajress.2025.7.3.37
Noe, R. A. (2017). Employee training and development (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Ooh, S. L., Seok, C. B., & Maakip, I. (2020). Psychological Capital Scale: A study on the psychometric properties of employees in Malaysia. Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology, 9(4), 559–573. https://doi.org/10.12928/jehcp.v9i4.17505
Pallant, J. (2021). SPSS survival manual: A step-by-step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS (7th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003117452
Podsakoff, P., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J.-Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 879–903. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2017). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (10th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
Romaiha, N. R., Roseli, N. H. M., Hashim, M. H., Alias, N. E., Abdullah, N. K., & Ismail, W. M. W. (2022). The impact of human resource management practices on employee performance among government servants in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(10), 2708–2717. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v12-i10/14878
Schein, E. H. (1978). Career dynamics: Matching individual and organizational needs. Addison-Wesley.
Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research methods for business: A skill-building approach (7th ed.). Wiley.
Spector, P. E. (1997). Job satisfaction: Application, assessment, causes, and consequences. Sage Publications.
Sulaiman, W. S. W., Abd Rahim, A. I. F. C., & Halim, F. W. (2021). Psychometric properties of the public service motivation scale among Malaysian public service officials. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(1), 454–465. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v11-i2/8308
Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2019). Using multivariate statistics (7th ed.). Pearson Education.
Williams, L. J., & Anderson, S. E. (1991). Job satisfaction and organizational commitment as predictors of organizational citizenship and in-role behaviors. Journal of Management, 17(3), 601–617. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700305
Zakaria, M. A. A., Mohd, T., & Hadzaman, N. A. H. (2024). Content validity of building information modelling (BIM) assessment criteria for framework formation for local government authorities. Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Environment, 11(1), 279–300. https://doi.org/10.24191/myse.v11i1.1084
Zakaria, Z., Azmi, N. A., Azrin, I. I. N., & Azmal, N. H. K. (2025). Public service delivery in local government: Findings from local authorities in Malaysia. International Journal of Law, Government and Communication, 10(40). https://doi.org/10.35631/IJLGC.1040049
Zolak Poljašević, B., Gričnik, A. M., & Šarotar Žižek, S. (2025). Human resource management in public administration: The ongoing tension between reform requirements and resistance to change. Administrative Sciences, 15(3), 94. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15030094
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Jasnah Mohamad Hadzar, Dr. Mazlan Che Soh, Dr. Radduan Yusof

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.



