A Scoping Review of Global Higher Education Institution Staff Voice Behavior Studies from 2013 to 2023

Ma Nisha, Elaina Rose Johar, Noor Faezah Juhari

Abstract


Competition among higher education organizations is becoming increasingly fierce. Management needs to fully consider the ideas and opinions of staff for further enhance organizations’ competitiveness. To investigate characteristics and emerging themes of higher education institution staff’s voice behavior studies, a scoping review technique mapping key concepts and evidence gaps was used to identify 18 journal articles published from 2013 to 2023 from Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus. The search terms for related studies include voice behavior, employee voice, higher education, university, and college. The geographical scope of reviewed articles included both developed and developing countries and the adopted methodologies included both quantitative and qualitative methods. Descriptive and thematic analysis are used for data analysis in this study. It is found that research on employee voice behavior in higher education is growing but limited. Past studies mainly focused on university teachers, and more research was done in developing countries. Most studies are indexed in higher level journals. Additionally, several key emerging themes such as supervisor and leadership are identified. Future research could include more staff types, such as administrative staff, and prioritizing studies in developed countries to comprehensively understand employee voice behavior.

 

https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.24.2.26


Keywords


higher education institution; scoping review; staff; voice behavior

Full Text:

PDF

References


Ahmad, S., Wasim, S., Irfan, S., Gogoi, S., Srivastava, A., & Farheen, Z. (2019). Qualitative v/s quantitative research: A summarized review. Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare, 6(43), 2828–2832. https://doi.org/10.18410/jebmh/2019/587

Aiston, S. J., & Fo, C. K. (2021). The silence/ing of academic women. Gender and Education, 33(2), 138–155. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540253.2020.1716955

Arksey, H., & O’Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616

Ashfan, M. A., Afrianty, T. W., & Utami, H. N. (2024). Analysis of antecedent and outcome factors of employee voice behavior: A systematic literature review. Journal of Theory and Applied Management, 17(2), 216–250. https://doi.org/10.20473/jmtt.v17i2.57251

Ashiru, J.-A., Erdil, G. E., & Oluwajana, D. (2022). The linkage between high performance work systems on organizational performance, employee voice and employee innovation. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 35(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1108/jocm-02-2021-0039

Barnes, A. J., & Zimmerman, F. J. (2013). Associations of occupational attributes and excessive drinking. Social Science & Medicine, 92, 35–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.05.023

Budd, J. W., Lamare, J. R., & Timming, A. R. (2017). Learning about Democracy at Work: Cross-National Evidence on Individual Employee Voice Influencing Political Participation in Civil Society. ILR Review, 71(4), 956–985. https://doi.org/10.1177/0019793917746619

Burris, E. R., McClean, E. J., Detert, J. R., & Quigley, T. J. (2023). The agency to implement voice: How target hierarchical position and competence changes the relationship between voice and individual performance. Organization Science, 34(5), 1695–1715. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.1640

Cardon, P. W., Feng, M., Ma, H., & Ma, Q. (2021). Employee voice, communication formality, and employee engagement: Is there a “new normal” for internal communication in China? Business Communication Research and Practice, 4(2), 82?91. https://doi.org/10.22682/bcrp.2021.4.2.82

Chen, A., & Trevino, L. K. (2022). Promotive and prohibitive ethical voice: Coworker emotions and support for the voice. Journal of Applied Psychology, 107(11), 1973?1994. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0001003

Chen, X. (2019). Scholarly journals’ publication frequency and number of articles in 2018–2019: A study of SCI, SSCI, CSCD, and CSSCI journals. Publications, 7(3), Article 58. https://doi.org/10.3390/publications7030058

CIPD. (2025). Employee voice. https://www.cipd.org/en/knowledge/factsheets/voice-factsheet/

Duan, J., Wang, X.-H., Janssen, O., & Farh, J.-L. (2022). Transformational leadership and voice: When does felt obligation to the leader matter? Journal of Business and Psychology, 37, 543–555 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-021-09758-z

Friary, P., Purdy, S. C., McAllister, L., & Barrow, M. (2021). Voice behavior in healthcare: A scoping review of the study of voice behavior in healthcare workers. Journal of Allied Health, 50(3), 242–260. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34495036/

Gan, I. (2020). The allegory of the university: Employee voice, employee silence, and organizational power. Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, 21(1), 59–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/17459435.2020.1742777

Gbobaniyi, O., Srivastava, S., Oyetunji, A. K., Amaechi, C. V., Beddu, S. B., & Ankita, B. (2023). The mediating effect of perceived institutional support on inclusive leadership and academic loyalty in higher education. Sustainability, 15(17), Article 13195. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151713195

Gkrimpizi, T., Peristeras, V., & Magnisalis, I. (2023). Classification of barriers to digital transformation in higher education institutions: Systematic literature review. Education Sciences, 13(7), Article 746. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13070746

Hao, S., & Han, P. (2022). The moderating roles of trust and felt trust on the relationship between proactive personality and voice behaviour. Management Decision, 60(8), 2224–2237. https://doi.org/10.1108/md-04-2021-0444

Hart, P. F., & Rodgers, W. (2023). Competition, competitiveness, and competitive advantage in higher education institutions: A systematic literature review. Studies in Higher Education, 49(11), 2153–2177. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2023.2293926

Huang, Y., Sharma, A., & Yu, H. (2023). A systematic review of employee voice literature in hospitality. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 56, 532–542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2023.08.012

Khan, M. M., Mubarik, M. S., Ahmed, S. S., Ali, S. R., & Siraj, S. S. (2023). Instilling employees with meaning to communicate: Servant leadership affecting employee voice behavior through meaning. Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication [ahead-of-print]. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-06-2023-0218

Khorshid, S., Mehdiabadi, A., Spulbar, C., Birau, R., & Mitroi, A. T. (2023). Modelling the effect of transformational leadership on entrepreneurial orientation in academic department: The mediating role of faculty members’ speaking up. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 36(2), Article 2167731. https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677x.2023.2167731

Lainidi, O., Jendeby, M. K., Montgomery, A., Mouratidis, C., Paitaridou, K., Cook, C., & Johnson, J. (2023). An integrative systematic review of employee silence and voice in healthcare: What are we really measuring? Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, Article 1111579. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1111579

Lee, Y., & Dong, E. (2023). How transparent internal communication from CEO, supervisors, and peers leads to employee advocacy. Management Communication Quarterly, 37(4), 878–912. https://doi.org/10.1177/08933189231153869

Levac, D., Colquhoun, H., & O’Brien, K. K. (2010). Scoping studies: Advancing the methodology. Implementation Science, 5, Article 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-5-69

Liu, C., Wu, M., & Chen, X. (2023). A chain mediation model of inclusive leadership and voice behavior among university teachers: Evidence from China. Scientific Reports, 13(1), Article 22377. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29340-2

Liu, X., Mao, J. Y., Chiang, J. T. J., Guo, L., & Zhang, S. (2023). When and why does voice sustain or stop? The roles of leader behaviours, power differential perception and psychological safety. Applied Psychology, 72(3), 1209–1247. https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12432

Loewenbrück, K. F., Liesenberg, J., Dittrich, M., Schäfer, J., Patzner, B., Trausch, B., Machetanz, J., Hermann, A., & Storch, A. (2016). Nerve ultrasound in the differentiation of multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with predominant lower motor neuron disease (ALS/LMND). Journal of Neurology, 263, 35–44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-015-7927-9

Lu, A. C. C., & Gursoy, D. (2024). Cultural value orientation and hospitality employee voice behavior: The moderating role of leader–member exchange (LMX). Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 48(7), 1267–1281. https://doi.org/10.1177/10963480221148175

Mastrokoukou, S., Kaliris, A., Donche, V., Chauliac, M., Karagiannopoulou, E., Christodoulides, P., & Longobardi, C. (2022). Rediscovering teaching in university: A scoping review of teacher effectiveness in higher education. Frontiers in Education, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.861458

Mauro, T. R. (2016). A systematic review of employee voice behavior and its effect on managerial controlled outcomes [Doctoral dissertation]. University of Maryland University College. https://www.proquest.com/openview/f6ac36e87271b01e6ab9abce43efe504/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750

Mazlan, C. A. N., Abdullah, M. H., Sulong, M. A., Abas, A., Ramdan, M. R., Safian, A. R., & Fuad, D. R. S. M. (2023). Exploring the integration of bite-sized learning: A scoping review of research in education and related disciplines. Contemporary Educational Technology, 15(4), ep468. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/13622

Mohammad, S. S., Nazir, N. A., & Mufti, S. (2023). Employee voice: A systematic literature review. FIIB Business Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/23197145231153926

Moher, D., Shamseer, L., Clarke, M., Ghersi, D., Liberati, A., Petticrew, M., Shekelle, P., & Stewart, L. A. (2015). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement. Systematic Reviews, 4, Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-4-1

Morrison, E. W. (2023). Employee voice and silence: Taking stock a decade later. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 10(1), 79–107. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-120920-054654

Mowbray, P. K. (2018). Giving a voice to managers: Forging the desire line through the creation of informal employee voice channels and productive resistance. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 29(5), 941–969. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2017.1396552

Mowbray, P. K., Wilkinson, A., & Tse, H. H. M. (2021). High-performance work systems and employee voice behaviour: An integrated model and research agenda. Personnel Review, 50(6), 1530–1543. https://doi.org/10.1108/pr-12-2019-0692

Nasib, N., Azhmy, M. F., Nabella, S. D., Rusiadi, R., & Fadli, A. (2022). Survive amidst the competition of private universities by maximizing brand image and interest in studying. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 14(3), 3317–3328. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v14i3.2037

Ngoc, N. M., Hieu, V. M., Tien, N. H., & Duc, L. D. M. (2022). Impact of accreditation policy on quality assurance activities of public and private universities in Vietnam. International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management, 10, 1–15. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360945881

Peters, M. D., Godfrey, C. M., Khalil, H., McInerney, P., Parker, D., & Soares, C. B. (2015). Guidance for conducting systematic scoping reviews. JBI Evidence Implementation, 13(3), 141–146. https://doi.org/10.1097/xeb.0000000000000050

Reilly, C., & Reeves, T. C. (2022). Refining active learning design principles through design-based research. Active Learning in Higher Education, 25(1), 81–100. https://doi.org/10.1177/14697874221096140

Schwappach, D., & Sendlhofer, G. (2020). Speaking up about patient safety in perioperative care: Differences between academic and nonacademic hospitals in Austria and Switzerland. Journal of Investigative Surgery, 33(8), 730–738. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941939.2018.1554016

Shin, D., Woodwark, M. J., Konrad, A. M., & Jung, Y. (2022). Innovation strategy, voice practices, employee voice participation, and organizational innovation. Journal of Business Research, 147, 392–402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.04.015

Sholekar, S., & Shoghi, B. (2017). The impact of organizational culture on organizational silence and voice of faculty members of Islamic Azad University in Tehran. Interdisciplinary Journal of Management Studies (Formerly known as Iranian Journal of Management Studies), 10(1), 113–142. https://doi.org/10.22059/ijms.2017.127016. 671744

Szromek, A. R., & Wolniak, R. (2020). Job Satisfaction and Problems among Academic Staff in Higher Education. Sustainability, 12(12), 4865. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12124865

Tan, A. J. M., Loi, R., Lam, L. W., & Zhang, L. L. (2019). Do embedded employees voice more? Personnel Review, 48(3), 824–838. https://doi.org/10.1108/pr-05-2017-0150

Wang, G., Li, J., Liu, H., & Zaggia, C. (2023). Transformational leadership and teachers’ voice behaviour: A moderated mediation model of group voice climate and team psychological safety. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 53(1), 102–122. https://doi.org/10.1177/17411432221143452

Workday (2019). The employee voice. https://forms.workday.com/en-us/reports/the-employee-voice/form.html?step=step1_default

Zakaria, R., Ahmi, A., Ahmad, A. H., Othman, Z., Azman, K. F., Ab Aziz, C. B., Ismail, C. A. N., & Shafin, N. (2021). Visualising and mapping a decade of literature on honey research: a bibliometric analysis from 2011 to 2020. Journal of Apicultural Research, 60(3), 359–368. https://doi.org/10.1080/0021 8839.2021.1898789

Zeng, J., & Xu, G. (2020). Linking ethical leadership to employee voice: The role of trust. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 48(8), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.9200


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


e-ISSN: 1694-2116

p-ISSN: 1694-2493