Human resource management practices and it s influence on organizational commitment in telecom sector in Kerala

Abstract

The telecom sector, a cornerstone of India's digital revolution, plays a crucial role in the nation’s economic growth and digital transformation. India has over 1059.97 million active subscribers, making it the world's second-largest telecom market. The sector not only drives connectivity and innovation but also generates significant employment, directly employing 2.2 million individuals and indirectly supporting 1.8 million jobs. However, managing human resources remains a complex challenge, particularly in an industry driven by rapid technological advancements and a high demand for skilled labour. Human Resource Management (HRM) practices play a crucial role in shaping employees’ organisational commitment and job satisfaction—key factors for improving productivity, reducing turnover, and enhancing overall company performance. Despite the recognised importance of HRM, there remains a gap in understanding how well existing HRM practices align with employee expectations and their impact on organisational commitment and job satisfaction. This study examines the effectiveness of HRM practices in Kerala’s telecom sector, specifically their impact on organisational commitment and job satisfaction. Additionally, it explores the mediating role of job satisfaction in this relationship. The study also investigates how these relationships vary between public and private sector telecom companies. This study adopts a descriptive and analytical research approach. Both secondary and primary data were used, with primary data collected through a well-structured questionnaire administered to 404 telecom sector employees from BSNL (public sector) and Jio (private sector) telecom companies in Kerala using the cluster sampling method. The findings reveal that performance appraisal, learning, and promotion are among the most effective HRM practices, while salary remains a critical area requiring improvement. The study confirms that HRM practices positively influence organisational commitment and job satisfaction, with job satisfaction serving as a significant mediator in this relationship. Sectoral differences are also evident, with public sector telecom companies benefiting more from ability-enhancing practices, while private sector companies see a stronger impact from motivation-enhancing practices. The study further examines how demographic and professional factors influence job satisfaction and organisational commitment. These findings offer valuable insights for telecom companies and policymakers, emphasizing the need to upgrade HRM practices and implement targeted strategies for both public and private telecom organisations