Unsettled Grounds, Enduring Bonds: A Literature Review on Employee Engagement during Organizational Change

Abstract

This systematic review critically examines how employee engagement is conceptualized and operationalized within the context of organizational change, aiming to uncover prevailing themes, highlight conceptual inconsistencies, and identify gaps in the literature to advance understanding in evolving organizational settings. Guided by the the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA framework, the study analyzes 29 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2006 and 2025, retrieved from the Scopus database, employing thematic synthesis and citation mapping to explore both organizational and individual-level influences on engagement during change. The findings reveal a dual-level framework: at the organizational level, leadership, organizational support, communication, and cultural and contextual dynamics play a central role, while at the individual level, psychological and emotional factors, behavioral patterns, attitudes toward change, and opportunities for skill development and career progression are key drivers. This review contributes by clarifying conceptual boundaries, identifying underexplored dimensions, and providing actionable insights for leaders and HR practitioners to sustain and enhance employee engagement during periods of organizational transition.