Examining the Relationship Between Perceived Green HRM and Employee Green Behavior in the Medical Device Industry in Malaysia: Mediating Roles of Green Values and Agile Mindset
List of Authors
Kavigtha Mohan Kumar, Raytaa Sivalingam, Tan Cheng Ling
Keyword
employee green behavior, green HRM, green values, agile mindset, medical device industry
Abstract
The Malaysian medical device industry, contributing RM13.7 billion in exports to the US alone in 2024, faces unprecedented pressure to balance economic survival amid 24% tariffs with environmental sustainability imperatives. This study investigates how perceived green human resource management (green HRM) practices influence employee green behavior in this critical sector, examining the mediating roles of green values and agile mindset. Despite Malaysia's declining environmental performance (dropping from 35th to 135th in the Global Green Economy Index between 2014-2024), limited research exists on translating green HRM policies into actual employee behaviors in regulated manufacturing industries. Employing a quantitative cross-sectional design grounded in Conservation of Resources Theory and Social Exchange Theory, this study targets 544 employees from Corporate Environmental Footprint-certified organizations such as ISOs across six medical device focus areas; consumables, surgical instruments, health equipment, point-of-care devices, non-invasive products, and convergence technologies. Data collection utilizes validated instruments measuring perceived green HRM (Tang et al., 2018), employee green behavior (Roy & Sia, 2024), green values (Haws et al., 2014), and agile mindset (Eilers et al., 2022). Analysis employs PLS-SEM with bootstrapping for mediation testing and robustness checks for nonlinearity and endogeneity. Expected findings will guide Malaysian medical device manufacturers in developing effective green HRM strategies that foster employee environmental engagement through green values cultivation and agile mindset development. This research addresses critical gaps in understanding how organizations in highly regulated industries can effectively promote employee green behavior during economic uncertainty, contributing to both sustainability literature and practical applications for achieving environmental goals while maintaining global competitiveness.