A Systematic Literature Review on the Relationship Between Human Character, Key Employee Indicators, and Outstanding Performance in Organizational University Context
Keywords:
Human Character, Key Performance Indicators, Organizational Performance, Higher EducationAbstract
This systematic literature review explores the integration of human character development and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in enhancing organizational performance, specifically within higher education institutions. The study investigates how emotional intelligence, ethical leadership, and personal traits influence academic outcomes and institutional success. Through an analysis of selected articles published between 2020 and 2025, it was found that human character attributes, such as self discipline and integrity, play a significant role in boosting employee performance and satisfaction. Furthermore, KPIs, when aligned with personal development, have a more substantial impact on organizational outcomes than when used in isolation. The findings highlight the importance of integrating both human character and KPIs into performance management systems to create a positive organizational culture and improve academic performance. Universities, particularly in underdeveloped regions, must adopt a holistic approach to performance management that includes both quantitative metrics and personal development strategies to foster long term growth and competitiveness.
References
Aguilera, R. V., De Massis, A., Fini, R., & Vismara, S. (2024). Organizational Goals, Outcomes, and the Assessment of Performance: Reconceptualizing Success in Management Studies. Journal of Management Studies, 61(1), 1–36. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12994
Al-Aali, E. (2022). Human Behaviour in Organizations. Advances in Human Resources Management and Organizational Development. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-9319-6.ch001
Alam, A. (2022). Impact of University’s Human Resources Practices on Professors’ Occupational Performance: Empirical Evidence from India’s Higher Education Sector. In Rajagopal & R. Behl (Eds.), Inclusive Businesses in Developing Economies: Converging People, Profit, and Corporate Citizenship (pp. 107–131). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12217-0_6
Alsaid, L. A. Z. A., & Ambilichu, C. A. (2023). Performance measurement in urban development: Unfolding a case of sustainability KPIs reporting. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 14(1), 48–74. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAEE-09-2021-0299
Amoah, G. B., & Minishi-Majanja, M. K. (2022). Key performance indicators (KPIs) in Ghanaian university libraries: Developing outcome-based metrics for staff performance. Performance Measurement and Metrics, 23(2), 41–52. https://doi.org/10.1108/PMM-05-2022-0018
Arthur, J., Earl, S. R., Thompson, A. P., & Ward, J. W. (2021). The Value of Character-Based Judgement in the Professional Domain. Journal of Business Ethics, 169(2), 293–308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04269-7
Asti, P., Widyaningsih, D., & Priyadi, A. (2022). Employee Emotions on Employee Performance: The Role of Human Character. Jesya. https://doi.org/10.36778/jesya.v5i2.787
Bashir, H., Araci, Z. C., Obaideen, K., & Alsyouf, I. (2023). An approach for analyzing and visualizing the relationships among key performance indicators for creating sustainable campuses in higher education institutions. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 19, 100267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2023.100267
Bellisario, A., Pavlov, A., & Steen, M. P. van der. (2021). The role of performance measurement in aligning operations with strategy: Sustaining cognitive processes of internal alignment. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 41(12), 1879–1907. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-02-2021-0081
Bianchi, C., & Caperchione, E. (2022). Performance Management and Governance in Public Universities: Challenges and Opportunities. In E. Caperchione & C. Bianchi (Eds.), Governance and Performance Management in Public Universities: Current Research and Practice (pp. 1–14). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85698-4_1
Biriuchynska, S. (2023). Key Performance Indicators (Kpi) And Ways Of Their Application In The Fitness Industry Of Ukraine. Sport Science and Human Health. https://doi.org/10.28925/2664-2069.2023.23
Bohórquez, E., Caiche, W., Benavides, V., & Benavides, A. (2023). Motivation and Job Performance: Human Capital as a Key Factor for Organizational Success. In M. Zambrano Vizuete, M. Botto-Tobar, A. Diaz Cadena, & A. Zambrano Vizuete (Eds.), I+D for Smart Cities and Industry (pp. 291–302). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-11295-9_21
Bowen, D. E. (2024). An organizational behavior/human resource management perspective on the roles of people in a service organization context: Frameworks and themes. Journal of Service Management, 35(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOSM-10-2023-0424
Camilleri, M. A. (2021). Evaluating service quality and performance of higher education institutions: A systematic review and a post-COVID-19 outlook. International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences, 13(2), 268–281. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQSS-03-2020-0034
Chams, N., & García-Blandón, J. (2019). On the importance of sustainable human resource management for the adoption of sustainable development goals. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 141, 109–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.10.006
Chiang, T.-H., Zeng, W., Thurston, A., MacKenzie, A., Xu, J., Fu, S., & Yao, Y. (2024). The practice of care of self through the agency-performance association in the regime of human capital discourse. International Journal of Educational Research, 126, 102366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2024.102366
Crossan, M., Nguyen, B., Sturm, R. E., Vera, D., Pardo, A. R. R., & Maurer, C. C. (2022). Organizational learning through character-based judgment. Management Learning, 54, 630–654. https://doi.org/10.1177/13505076221100918
Dey, M., Bhattacharjee, S., Mahmood, M., Uddin, M. A., & Biswas, S. R. (2022). Ethical leadership for better sustainable performance: Role of employee values, behavior and ethical climate. Journal of Cleaner Production, 337, 130527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130527
Eshet, Y., & Harpaz, I. (2021). Outstanding Employees Performance: Personality Traits, Innovation and Knowledge Management. 1–12. https://doi.org/10.24251/HICSS.2021.611
Fernando, W., Yusoff, S. K. M., Khatibi, A., Azam, S., & Sudasinghe, S. (2020). Human Capital Practices Impact On Organizational Performance. 4. https://doi.org/10.46827/EJHRMS.V4I2.799
Florencondia, N. T., Ladignon, C. M., & Muldong, R. M. C. (2024). Enhancing Performance Metrics: A Google Looker Studio Approach to Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Management System for Homecorp Offshore Drafting Team. Engineering and Technology Journal. https://doi.org/10.47191/etj/v9i05.25
Gong, Y.-X., Ying, W., Yu, Y.-H., Zhou, X., & Fan, X. (2021). Research on the Key Performance Evaluation Methods of Enterprises Using BSC and KPI Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process—Illustrated by the Case of Hangzhou Cigarette Factory. E3S Web of Conferences. https://doi.org/10.1051/E3SCONF/202125101067
Guo, B., Qiang, B., Zhou, J., Yang, X., Qiu, X., Qiao, Z., Yang, Y., & Cao, D. (2021). The Relationship between Achievement Motivation and Job Performance among Chinese Physicians: A Conditional Process Analysis. BioMed Research International, 2021(1), 6646980. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6646980
Guseva, A. I., Kalashnik, V. M., Kaminskii, V. I., & Kireev, S. V. (2022). Key performance indicators of Russian universities for 2015–2018: Dataset and Benchmarking Data. Data in Brief, 40, 107695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2021.107695
Hanaysha, J. R., Shriedeh, F. B., & In’airat, M. (2023). Impact of classroom environment, teacher competency, information and communication technology resources, and university facilities on student engagement and academic performance. International Journal of Information Management Data Insights, 3(2), 100188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jjimei.2023.100188
Harry Purwoko, K. (2023). Key Performance Indicator: Concept, Implementation to Performance Management. East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research. https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v2i8.5282
Iqbal, J., & Parray, Z. A. (2024). Leading with integrity: Illuminating the pathway to positive job outcomes through ethical leadership and CSR. Social Responsibility Journal, 21(2), 320–336. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-08-2023-0464
Jaboob, M., Hazaimeh, M., & Al-Ansi, A. M. (2025). Integration of Generative AI Techniques and Applications in Student Behavior and Cognitive Achievement in Arab Higher Education. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10447318.2023.2300016
Jackson, D., Riebe, L., Meek, S., Ogilvie, M., Kuilboer, A., Murphy, L., Collins, N., Lynch, K., & Brock, M. (2023). Using an industry-aligned capabilities framework to effectively assess student performance in non-accredited work-integrated learning contexts. Teaching in Higher Education. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13562517.2020.1863348
Jalloh, A., & Ming, F. (2020). Determinants of Employees Outstanding Performance in Public Corporations: Strategic Human Resource Management Perspectives of Organisational Development and Sustainability. International Journal of Management and Humanities. https://doi.org/10.35940/ijmh.a1125.095120
Jeffries, A. C., Marcora, S. M., Coutts, A. J., Wallace, L., McCall, A., & Impellizzeri, F. M. (2022). Development of a Revised Conceptual Framework of Physical Training for Use in Research and Practice. Sports Medicine, 52(4), 709–724. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01551-5
Jocelyne, S. (2020). Human Capital, Employee Empowerment And Organization Performance.
Khan, M., Mahmood, A., & Shoaib, M. (2022). Role of Ethical Leadership in Improving Employee Outcomes through the Work Environment, Work-Life Quality and ICT Skills: A Setting of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Sustainability, 14(17), Article 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141711055
Klimanova, Е. Y., Zelenko, O. V., & Gasimov, T. E. (2023). Key Performance Indicators As A Way To Increase Motivation Of Workers Within The Production Organization. Izvestiya of Samara Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.37313/1990-5378-2023-25-6-105-111
Konadu, K., Mensah, A. O., Koomson, S., Abraham, E. M., Nkrumah, E. N. K., Amuzu, J., Agyapong, J.-A. M., Bempong, A. E., & Munkaila, A. (2024). An empirical investigation into how employee integrity shapes work performance in the public sector. International Journal of Ethics and Systems, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOES-12-2023-0285
Kumar Betchoo, N. (2023). Data-Driven Decision Management from a Dashboard Perspective. In B. Pati, C. R. Panigrahi, P. Mohapatra, & K.-C. Li (Eds.), Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Advance Computing and Intelligent Engineering (pp. 509–519). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2225-1_45
Kustiwi, I. A., Hwihanus, H. 2023. Sistem Informasi Akuntansi Dari Sisi Audit Internal. JPEKBM (Jurnal Pendidikan Ekonomi, Kewirausahaan, Bisnis, dan Manajemen, Vol 7, No 2.
Lazorenko, L. (2021). Human in system of organizational behavior. Economy. Management. Business. https://doi.org/10.31673/2415-8089.2021.021015
Leavitt, K., Qiu, F., & Shapiro, D. L. (2021). Using Electronic Confederates for Experimental Research in Organizational Science. Organizational Research Methods, 24, 3–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428119889136
Liu, Q. (2024). The Research on The Relationship Between Employee Psychology and Work Performance. Highlights in Business, Economics and Management. https://doi.org/10.54097/mgnbq760
Millin, T., Spronken-Smith, R., & Millin, M. (2022). Master’s Research Supervision and Academic Support: A Benchmarking of Best Practice at a New Zealand Research-Intensive University. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 57(1), 231–252. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40841-021-00215-2
Muhdar, H. M., Maguni, W., Muhtar, M., Bakri, B., Rahma, S. T., & Junaedi, I. W. R. (2022). The Impact of Leadership and Employee Satisfaction on the Performance of Vocational College Lecturers in the Digital Era. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.895346
Nguyen, B., & Crossan, M. (2021). Character-Infused Ethical Decision Making. Journal of Business Ethics, 178, 171–191. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-021-04790-8
Nuraini, B. (2023). Employee Performance Optimization: The Synergy of Leadership and Compensation. Asadel Publisher.
Peng, J. (2022). Performance Appraisal System and Its Optimization Method for Enterprise Management Employees Based on the KPI Index. Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1937083
Pletzer, J. L. (2021). Why older employees engage in less counterproductive work behavior and in more organizational citizenship behavior: Examining the role of the HEXACO personality traits. Personality and Individual Differences, 173, 110550. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110550
Qasim, M., Irshad, M., Majeed, M., & Rizvi, S. T. H. (2022). Examining Impact of Islamic Work Ethic on Task Performance: Mediating Effect of Psychological Capital and a Moderating Role of Ethical Leadership. Journal of Business Ethics, 180(1), 283–295. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-021-04916-y
Rahman, Md. M., & Akhter, B. (2021). The impact of investment in human capital on bank performance: Evidence from Bangladesh. Future Business Journal, 7(1), 61. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-021-00105-5
Rodjam, C., Thanasrisuebwong, A., Suphuan, T., & Charoenboon, P. (2020). Effect of Human Resource Management Practices on Employee Performance Mediating by Employee Job Satisfaction. Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, 11, 37–47. https://doi.org/10.5530/SRP.2020.3.05
Rompho, N. (2023). Do objectives and key results solve organizational performance measurement issues? Benchmarking: An International Journal, 31(3), 669–682. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-07-2022-0464
Sadovyy, M., Sánchez-Gómez, M., & Bresó, E. (2021). COVID-19: How the stress generated by the pandemic may affect work performance through the moderating role of emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 180, 110986. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.110986
Sardjono, W., Selviyanti, E., Perdana, W., & Sudrajat, J. (2020). Modeling of development of employee performance factors and dissemination. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1465. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1465/1/012024
Serafini, P. G., Moura, J. M. de, Almeida, M. R. de, & Rezende, J. F. D. de. (2022). Sustainable Development Goals in Higher Education Institutions: A systematic literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 370, 133473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133473
Silva, L. (2021). The human learning process in the organizational context. Revista Científica Multidisciplinar Núcleo Do Conhecimento. https://doi.org/10.32749/nucleodoconhecimento.com.br/education/human-learning-process
Steinemann, S., Korndorffer, J., Dent, D., Rucinski, J., Newman, R. W., Blair, P., Lupi, L. K., & Sachdeva, A. K. (2021). Defining the need for faculty development in assessment. The American Journal of Surgery, 222(4), 679–684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.06.010
Stoyanova-Bozhkova, S., Paskova, T., & Buhalis, D. (2022). Emotional intelligence: A competitive advantage for tourism and hospitality managers. Tourism Recreation Research. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02508281.2020.1841377
Tambare, P., Meshram, C., Lee, C.-C., Ramteke, R. J., & Imoize, A. L. (2022). Performance Measurement System and Quality Management in Data-Driven Industry 4.0: A Review. Sensors, 22(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22010224
Trukhmanov, V. B., Pervushkina, E. A., Statuev, A. A., Belov, V. N., & Volodin, A. (2021). System of key performance indicators as a method for executive decision-making. E3S Web of Conferences. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202129602003
Ugoani, J. (2020). Personality Factors and Effect on Employee Task Performance. AARN: Cognitive Anthropology (Topic).
Ugoani, J. (2021). Self-Leadership and Its Influence on Organizational Effectiveness (SSRN Scholarly Paper No. 3834352). Social Science Research Network. https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=3834352
van de Ven, M., Lara Machado, P., Athanasopoulou, A., Aysolmaz, B., & Turetken, O. (2023). Key performance indicators for business models: A systematic review and catalog. Information Systems and E-Business Management, 21(3), 753–794. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10257-023-00650-2
Verhaelen, B., Mayer, F., Peukert, S., & Lanza, G. (2021). A comprehensive KPI network for the performance measurement and management in global production networks. Production Engineering, 15, 635–650. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11740-021-01041-7
Vuong, T. D. N., & Nguyen, L. T. (2022). The Key Strategies for Measuring Employee Performance in Companies: A Systematic Review. Sustainability, 14(21), Article 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114017
Werner, M. J. E., Yamada, A. P. L., Domingos, E. G. N., Leite, L. R., & Pereira, C. R. (2021). Exploring Organizational Resilience Through Key Performance Indicators. Journal of Industrial and Production Engineering, 38(1), 51–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/21681015.2020.1839582
Widyatmoko, W., Pabbajah, M., & Widyanti, R. (2020). The Character Of Leadership In Human Resources Development: A Critical Review. 6, 01–09. https://doi.org/10.18510/IJMIER.2020.621
Wijayanto, B. K., & Riani, A. (2021). The Influence of Work Competency and Motivation on Employee Performance. Society, 9, 83–93. https://doi.org/10.33019/SOCIETY.V9I1.290
Wong, W. H., & Chapman, E. (2023). Student satisfaction and interaction in higher education. Higher Education, 85(5), 957–978. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-022-00874-0
Zaglyadin, O. V. (2023). Company management based on key performance indicators: Industry overview. Entrepreneur’s Guide. https://doi.org/10.24182/2073-9885-2023-16-4-142-145
