Development and Validation of ESI iDART Instrument Measuring Organizational Values: An Empirical Study in Malaysia

Development and Validation of ESI iDART Instrument Measuring Organizational Values: An Empirical Study in Malaysia

The purpose of this paper is to explain the process of developing and validating the instrument to measure the university’s organizational core values and sub-values known as ESI iDART. The three core values are excellence, synergy, and integrity, while the five sub-values comprise knowledge, discipline, trustworthiness, diligence, and responsibility that all staff should understand and practice. These values must be measured to examine the extent to which the staff has practiced them in their work life. With regard to methodology, the research instrument used in the study was developed using a focus group study involving 39 university staff from various departments and campuses. The instrument was later refined and validated by a group of experts from the university. In the main study, the instrument was distributed to all 17,969 university staff from all over the country. After one month, a total of 11,688 university staff participated in the survey indicating a 66% response rate. Using descriptive analysis, reliability analysis, and ANOVA, the results indicate that instrument is considered valid and reliable to be used. The major findings from the study show that organizational values increase over time. Some theoretical and managerial implications are also discussed.