MEASURING HIGH PERFORMANCE WORK PRACTICE SYSTEMS: THE TRAINING, INFORMATION, PARTICIPATION AND AUTONOMY (TIPA) SCALE

High performance work practices (HPWPs) have shown positive effects on organizational performance outcomes. However, valid and reliable measures of HPWPs are lacking, as are tools that examine employee-level perceptions of HPWPs in non-English speaking countries. Thus, the primary aim of this research was to develop a scale for measuring HPWPs and to validate it using structural equation modelling. The study sample comprised 3046 employees of 33 organizations in the industry and services sectors of the Basque Country (northern Spain). Development and validation of a measure to examine a HPWP ‘system' was carried out over two studies. In the first, and based on previous studies, we selected variables related to training, information, participation and autonomy (TIPA). Items for each variable were then developed, and their psychometric properties were analysed. In the second study, we tested a structural equation model which hypothesized that TIPA scale scores would predict perceived organizational support and organizational commitment; relationships with firm size and employees´ educational level were also analysed with the aim of providing additional validity evidence. Based on the results of the two studies we conclude that the TIPA scale shows appropriate validity and reliability indexes and can therefore be considered an adequate tool for assessing a HPWP system encompassing training, information, participation and autonomy.