Open Access

ARTICLE

Empowered to excel: Developing and validating an employee empowerment scale for universities

Linda Naidoo^*, Mariette Coetzee
Department of Human Resource Management, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
* Corresponding Author: Linda Naidoo. Email:

Journal of Psychology in Africa https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2026.073305

Received 15 September 2025; Accepted 03 February 2026; Published online 08 April 2026

Abstract

This study tested the internal reliability and validity of a 28-item Employee Empowerment scale within a higher education context. A sample of 452 university employees (N = 452) from a South African higher education institution, comprising academics (46%), administrative staff (33%), and professional and managerial staff (21%), participated in the study. The participants were required to complete an employee empowerment questionnaire. The exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis identified a three-construct measurement model for employee empowerment: management support, autonomy and decision-making, and access to information and resources. The results revealed that the research instrument was reliable for measuring employee empowerment at a higher education institution. The study adds to the existing body of knowledge of employee empowerment within the higher education environment.

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Keywords

employee empowerment; autonomy and decision-making; management support; access to information and resources; higher education institution

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