Sustainable growth by design: The role of work engagement, organizational citizenship behavior, and next-gen offices in Malaysia

Abstract

Designing effective office spaces goes beyond arranging desks. Modern layouts, paired with strategic talent management, can foster collaboration, enhance comfort, and boost productivity. Grounded in social exchange theory, this study examines how office design and work engagement influence the relationship between perceived organizational support (POS) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). We surveyed 255 expatriate English teaching professionals across 15 international schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, using a two-wave research approach. Data analysis involved confirmatory factor analysis, regression techniques, and bootstrapping to assess mediation effects. Findings reveal that POS significantly enhances work engagement, strengthening its impact on OCB. Notably, this relationship is stronger in cubicle-based offices than in open-plan designs. Expatriates showed a clear preference for cubicles, finding them more conducive to their work. As the first study of its kind in Malaysian international schools, this research offers valuable insights into how office design and supportive environments maximize employee potential.