PurposeThis conceptual paper develops a framework that links multidimensional self-concept with job performance among junior executives. It focuses on three selected dimensions of self-concept, namely self-satisfaction, self-physical and self-social, and explains how these dimensions may shape workplace behaviour and employee performance. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopts a conceptual and exploratory approach. It draws on content analysis of relevant literature on self-concept, core self-evaluation, job performance and organisational behaviour. The reviewed literature is synthesised to develop a proposed conceptual framework and a set of propositions for future empirical investigation. Conceptual contribution The paper argues that self-concept should not be treated as a single general construct. Instead, self-satisfaction, self-physical and self-social may influence job performance through different psychological and behavioural mechanisms, including confidence, motivation, professional self-presentation, communication and interpersonal adjustment. Originality/valueThis paper contributes to organisational behaviour literature by proposing a multidimensional framework of self-concept and job performance with specific attention to junior executives. It also offers a foundation for future empirical research in Malaysian and other organisational contexts.
Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2017). Job demands-resources theory: Taking stock and looking forward. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(3), 273–285. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000056
Barrick, M. R., & Mount, M. K. (1991). The Big Five personality dimensions and job performance: A meta-analysis. Personnel Psychology, 44(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1991.tb00688.x
Baumeister, R. F. (1997). Identity, self-concept, and self-esteem: The self lost and found. In R. Hogan, J. A. Johnson, & S. R. Briggs (Eds.), Handbook of personality psychology (pp. 681–710). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012134645-4/50027-5
Bono, J. E., & Judge, T. A. (2003). Core self-evaluations: A review of the trait and its role in job satisfaction and job performance. European Journal of Personality, 17(S1), S5–S18. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.481
Borman, W. C., & Motowidlo, S. J. (1993). Expanding the criterion domain to include elements of contextual performance. In N. Schmitt & W. C. Borman (Eds.), Personnel selection in organizations (pp. 71–98). Jossey-Bass.
Campbell, J. P., McCloy, R. A., Oppler, S. H., & Sager, C. E. (1993). A theory of performance. In N. Schmitt & W. C. Borman (Eds.), Personnel selection in organizations (pp. 35–70). Jossey-Bass.
Campbell, J. P., McHenry, J. J., & Wise, L. L. (1990). Modeling job performance in a population of jobs. Personnel Psychology, 43(2), 313–333. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1990.tb01561.x
DeNisi, A. S., & Murphy, K. R. (2017). Performance appraisal and performance management: 100 years of progress? Journal of Applied Psychology, 102(3), 421–433. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000085
Fitts, W. H. (1965). Tennessee Self-Concept Scale: Manual. Counselor Recordings and Tests.
Fitts, W. H., & Warren, W. L. (1996). Tennessee Self-Concept Scale: TSCS:2 manual (2nd ed.). Western Psychological Services.
Ibarra, H. (1999). Provisional selves: Experimenting with image and identity in professional adaptation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(4), 764–791. https://doi.org/10.2307/2667055
Jaakkola, E. (2020). Designing conceptual articles: Four approaches. AMS Review, 10, 18–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13162-020-00161-0
Jokanovi?, B., Tomi?, I., Okanovi?, A., Grubi?-Neši?, L., & Stoji?, N. (2023). The influence of organizational change on the employee’s performance. In 19th International Scientific Conference on Industrial Systems (pp. 320–325). Faculty of Technical Sciences. https://doi.org/10.24867/IS-2023-T6.1-12_02041
Judge, T. A., & Bono, J. E. (2001). Relationship of core self-evaluations traits—self-esteem, generalized self-efficacy, locus of control, and emotional stability—with job satisfaction and job performance: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(1), 80–92. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.86.1.80
Jussli, A., Ocampo Villegas, P., & Lippke, S. (2022). Promoting blue-collar employees’ work ability: A qualitative study on occupational health practitioners’ perspective on feasible interventions. Work, 73(2), 591–610. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-205329
Knight, C., McLarnon, M. J. W., Wenzel, R., & Parker, S. K. (2022). The importance of relational work design characteristics: A person-centred approach. Australian Journal of Management, 47(4), 705–728. https://doi.org/10.1177/03128962211073021
Lau, P. L., Wilkins-Yel, K. G., & Wong, Y. J. (2020). Examining the indirect effects of self-concept on work readiness through resilience and career calling. Journal of Career Development, 47(5), 551–564. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845319847288
Marsh, H. W., & Richards, G. E. (1988). Tennessee Self Concept Scale: Reliability, internal structure, and construct validity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55(4), 612–624. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.55.4.612
Marsh, H. W., & Shavelson, R. J. (1985). Self-concept: Its multifaceted, hierarchical structure. Educational Psychologist, 20(3), 107–123. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15326985ep2003_1
Murphy, K. R. (1989). Dimensions of job performance. In R. F. Dillon & J. W. Pellegrino (Eds.), Testing: Theoretical and applied perspectives (pp. 218–247). Praeger.
Orth, U., Robins, R. W., & Widaman, K. F. (2012). Life-span development of self-esteem and its effects on important life outcomes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102(6), 1271–1288. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025558
Pomerance, M. H., Converse, P. D., & Moon, N. A. (2021). Self-concept content and structure: Motivation and performance implications. Personnel Review, 50(6), 1514–1529. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-07-2019-0403
Shavelson, R. J., Hubner, J. J., & Stanton, G. C. (1976). Self-concept: Validation of construct interpretations. Review of Educational Research, 46(3), 407–441. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543046003407
Surakhmat, Ansar, & Kurniawaty. (2023). Working environment and position to employee performance improvement. Journal of Indonesian Scholars for Social Research, 3(1), 18–24. https://doi.org/10.59065/jissr.v3i1.57
Tisu, L., Lup?a, D., Vîrg?, D., & Rusu, A. (2020). Personality characteristics, job performance and mental health: The mediating role of work engagement. Personality and Individual Differences, 153, Article 109644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.109644
Varshney, D., & Varshney, N. K. (2024). Self-concept and job performance: The mediating role of resilience. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 73(5), 1563–1586. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-10-2022-0548
Zhang, Z., & Yan, Z. (2024). The impact of core self-evaluations and person-job fit on work-related outcomes. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, Article 1341717. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1341717
T.K., T. B., Thangal, M. K., Yunos, D. R. M., & Akmal, M. F. Bin. (2026). Evaluating the Role of Multidimensional Self-Concept in Driving Job Performance among Junior Executives in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 16(9), 559-.
Copyright: © 2026 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
