الملخص الإنجليزي
Abstract:
Social media is a broad terminology demonstrated by web-based platforms or social software applications such as social networking sites. Collectively they represent essential life requirements to perceive, interact, function, and manage the surroundings. From an early time, social media network was accessed and utilized by many people until COVID-19 emerged when public attention targeted virtual type of communication thus remaining safe. Surprisingly, a unique assumption was initiated to correlate popular applications of social media with job performance, which is still under debate, perhaps some work regulations, personal dependency, or even local culture are consistently key determinants of success versus a deterioration of outcomes. Purpose: A conceptual model was derived from valid theories in literature to describe the main objective of exploring the immediate impact of external social media example: WhatsApp on employees’ job performance at work. Design/methodology/approach: A private Hospital with the anticipated population was chosen then sample members were subjected to an online survey, a total of (196) respondents voluntarily participated, and data was gathered accordingly. Three parameters of WhatsApp use: cognitive, social, and hedonic were measured alternately to find out the truth behind their function on task and the innovative performance of the Hospital staff during duty hours, consequently, the five hypotheses were tested and thoroughly analyzed. Findings: WhatsApp has statistically proven to be positively associated with innovative performance rather than task performance, additional results reveal that hedonic use of WhatsApp for entertainment does not interfere with task performance, about the leverage effect of the two moderators which are task characteristics, it shows that task equivocality is positively promoting the relationship between cognitive use and task performance that is meaningful. Research limitations/implications: As perceived, the whole study is confined to employees in specific private Hospitals including health professionals and administrators, so the private health sector is targeted to correlate findings within field characteristics. Practical implications: This study acts to provide medical organizations with prospective rules modification or to enable managerial decisions regarding the implementation of feasible social technology. Novelty: From Saudi Arabia, almost null reported evidence about this topic in the literature, hence, the current research will appear highly strategic by adding a breakthrough. Recommendations: Creation of comfortable, regulated, and contemporary work environment is an optimal requirement, another is the social connection and rewarding, and most importantly is the training and education of staff which all are highly recommended for quality production and creativity. Future Research: Further qualitative studies are complementary, the idea of secondary research is also suggested, other comparative studies considering social culture, personal habits, and work governance should aid generalizability and credibility of results.
