The Mediating Effect of Employee Autonomy on the relationship between Generative AI Adoption and Job Satisfaction in Malaysia
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Abstract
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is increasingly integrated into daily work processes. This study examines its effect on employee autonomy and job satisfaction among workers in Malaysia, investigating whether enhanced employee autonomy mediates the relationship between GenAI adoption and job satisfaction. A quantitative cross-sectional survey analyzed 420 valid responses using IBM SPSS Statistics. The analysis included descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha reliability, exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and mediation analysis via PROCESS Model 4 with 5000 bootstrap samples. The findings reveal a positive correlation between Generative AI adoption and employee autonomy (β = .444, p < .001), which in turn is positively linked to job satisfaction (β = .646, p < .001). Furthermore, Generative AI adoption is also positively related to job satisfaction (β = .490, p < .001). In the mediation model, the indirect effect via employee autonomy was .2092, with a bootstrap 95% confidence interval ranging from .1472 to .2803. Employee autonomy partially mediated the effect, with approximately 48.4 percent of the total effect transmitted through it, as the interval did not include zero and the direct effect remained significant. The study indicates that organizations benefit more from Generative AI when employees maintain discretion and control in making professional judgments. It applies Self Determination Theory, the Job Characteristics Model, and Sociotechnical Systems Theory in the context of AI in the workplace.
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