Moderating Effect of Strategic Planning on the Relationship between Career Path Planning and Job Performance 

Introduction 

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in the economy, particularly in developing countries. In Bahrain, SMEs contribute significantly to the national economy, accounting for 40% of the GDP and providing 43,000 jobs. However, SMEs in Bahrain face numerous challenges, including the lack of staff capabilities and competencies in strategic planning. This study aims to investigate the moderating effect of strategic planning on the relationship between career path planning and job performance among SME employees in Bahrain. 

This study employed a quantitative approach, using a structured online questionnaire to collect data from a convenience sample of 249 SME employees in Bahrain. The study used SPSS and Smart-PLS to analyze the data and test the hypotheses. 

The results of the study revealed that strategic planning and career path planning had a significant positive impact on job performance. The study also found that strategic planning moderated the relationship between career path planning and job performance. The results showed that SME employees with strong strategic planning had a stronger relationship between career path planning and job performance. 

The study's findings suggest that SMEs in Bahrain should prioritize strategic planning and career path planning to improve job performance. The study's results also highlight the importance of considering the moderating effect of strategic planning on the relationship between career path planning and job performance. 

This study contributes to the existing literature on strategic planning and career path planning in SMEs. The findings of this study provide insights for SME managers, researchers, and policymakers on the importance of strategic planning and career path planning in improving job performance. The study's results also suggest that SMEs in Bahrain should invest in strategic planning and career path planning to enhance their competitiveness and sustainability. 

Recommendations 

Based on the study's findings, the following recommendations are made: 

SMEs in Bahrain should prioritize strategic planning and career path planning to improve job performance. 

SME managers should consider the moderating effect of strategic planning on the relationship between career path planning and job performance. 

Policymakers should provide support for SMEs in Bahrain to develop their strategic planning and career path planning capabilities. 

This study has several limitations, including the use of a convenience sample and the limited scope of the study to SMEs in Bahrain. Future studies should consider using a larger sample size and exploring the generalizability of the findings to other contexts. 

Future Research Directions 

Future studies should investigate the impact of strategic planning and career path planning on job performance in other contexts, such as large organizations or different industries. Additionally, future studies should explore the mediating effects of other variables, such as employee engagement or organizational culture, on the relationship between strategic planning and job performance.