Conceptual Framework for Assessing the Multilevel Effects of Training and Development, and Employee Job Performance

Abstract

In today’s competitive work environment, organisations increasingly invest in Training and Development (T&D) to enhance employee capabilities; however, there remains a limited understanding of the multilevel pathways through which T&D impacts employee job performance. This study aims to develop a comprehensive conceptual framework that examines the direct and indirect effects of T&D on employee performance by integrating key attitudinal constructs such as and employee retention, job satisfaction, and employee commitment. Drawing on six complementary theories; Human Capital Theory, Social Exchange Theory, Resource-Based View, Organisational Support Theory, Affective Events Theory, and Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, this research synthesizes existing literature to establish a theoretically grounded conceptual model. Using an extensive conceptual analysis, the study proposes twelve testable hypotheses outlining how T&D initiatives influence job satisfaction, commitment, and retention, which in turn shape performance outcomes. The conceptual framework contributes to theory by unifying diverse perspectives that explain how skill investments translate into sustainable competitive advantage through employee attitudes and behaviours. Practically, the model offers actionable understandings and intuitions for human resource practitioners and policymakers to design T&D programs that strengthen job satisfaction, and retention, ultimately driving high performance. By addressing these critical gaps in understanding the mediating mechanisms between T&D and performance, this study provides a solid foundation for future empirical validation and cross-contextual application, advancing scholarly discourse and supporting evidence-based HRM practices.