DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING A MODEL MEDIATING THE IMPACT OF THE ABROAD TRAINING AND THE SAUDI PUBLIC EMPLOYEES CREATIVIT

Abstract

This research adopts a scientific approach to determine the impact of involving abroad
training quality as a mediator between the constructs of the abroad trainee factors and abroad
training factors and the creativity of Saudi public employees who attend at least one training
session. The training was held in Istanbul, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur in 2018, and an equal
probability random sampling technique was adopted by involving all recipients of the training
sessions whose net number was 385 respondents. Data collection was performed by either
direct collection or an online survey. A questionnaire was based on previous studies and
tested for validity and reliability by using content validity, face validity, and pilot study. Data
obtained from the survey was analyzed by utilizing the software Statistical Package for the
Social Sciences (SPSS 22) and SmartPLS 3.0. The results have shown that half of the six
sub-hypotheses was supported when training did not consider AT. However, when AT was
involved, only one sub-hypothesis was rejected, and the other five sub-hypotheses were
supported. Moreover, when the impact of AT on EC was directly tested, it was found
supported; however, with a weak association (0.330) compared with the corresponding
association under AT involvement (0.803). The result could play an important role in setting
future abroad training sessions as the involvement of a mediator makes a big difference in the
achievement of the employees that would benefit the organizations where employees were
coming from.