The Effect of a Structured Workplace Exercise Program on 360-Degree Performance Evaluation, Job Motivation, Productivity, and Quality of Work Life

Overview

This quasi-experimental, single-group pre-test/post-test study is designed to evaluate the effects of a 12-week structured workplace exercise program on four human capital indicators among employees of a medical garment manufacturing factory in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, Iran. The study population consists of 150 employees working in production, cutting, quality control, technical maintenance, and administrative departments. Following clinical screening by an occupational medicine specialist and completion of the PAR-Q questionnaire, eligible participants will be enrolled. The exercise intervention consists of 24 sessions (2 sessions per week, 60 minutes each) delivered by a certified fitness instructor. Outcome measures include AGIO human resource productivity, 360-degree performance evaluation, Herzberg job motivation, and Walton quality of work life, assessed at baseline and post-intervention. This study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj Branch (IR.IAU.SANANDAJ.REC.1405.152).

This study employs a quasi-experimental, single-group pre-test/post-test design with a mixed-methods (quantitative-qualitative) approach. The study is conducted at a medical protective apparel and healthcare sanitary wear manufacturing plant in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, Iran. Workers primarily perform sedentary-to-light manual tasks including fabric cutting, sewing, quality inspection, and packaging under a two-shift rotation system. The study period runs from April to July 2025 (1 Ordibehesht to 24 Tir 1404, Iranian calendar). Baseline (T1) assessments are completed one week before session 1; post-intervention (T2) assessments are completed within one week of session 24. The study protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj Branch (Ethics Code: IR.IAU.SANANDAJ.REC.1405.152). Written informed consent is obtained from all participants before enrolment. Participants: All 150 employees of the facility are invited for eligibility screening. A licensed occupational medicine physician conducts clinical examinations supplemented by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q). Employees with uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, severe respiratory disorders, musculoskeletal conditions incompatible with moderate-intensity exercise, pregnancy, or other physician-identified contraindications are excluded. Eligible employees who provide written informed consent are enrolled. Sample size adequacy is confirmed using Cochran's formula for finite populations (N = 150; 95% CI; margin of error = 0.05; p = q = 0.50), and statistical power is verified using G\*Power 3.1. Intervention Protocol: The 12-week structured exercise program comprises 24 sessions (2 × 60 min/week), delivered by a fitness instructor holding a Grade-2 certification from the Physical Fitness Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Sessions are consistently held at 10:00 AM before shift handovers. The facility's dedicated sports hall provides a climate-controlled environment (25-26°C; 60% relative humidity) consistent with ACSM guidelines for moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. Each session includes a 10-minute warm-up with joint mobility and dynamic stretching, a 40-minute main phase combining intermittent aerobic exercise (60-75% of heart rate reserve) with functional core exercises, calisthenics, and cooperative small-sided games, and a 10-minute cool-down with static stretching, spinal elongation, and guided diaphragmatic breathing. Aerobic intensity is targeted at 60-75% of heart rate reserve using the Karvonen formula, monitored via the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE; 6-20 scale; target 12-14). All phases are instructor-led; no self-directed activities are included. Outcome Measures: Four validated instruments are administered at baseline (T1) and post-intervention (T2). (1) The 40-item Herzberg Dual-Factor Motivation Questionnaire (Darchini, 2015) assesses two independent subscales: Intrinsic/Motivator factors (20 items) and Extrinsic/Hygiene factors (20 items), using a 5-point Likert scale. (2) The 26-item AGIO Human Resource Productivity Scale (Hersey and Blanchard, 1980; validated by Mehri, 2013) assesses seven subscales: Ability, Role Clarity, Organizational Support, Motivation, Feedback, Credibility, and Environmental Fit, using a 5-point Likert scale. (3) A 360-degree performance evaluation questionnaire (Poursoltani et al., 2010) collects ratings from four sources: supervisor, peer, subordinate, and self. (4) The Walton Quality of Work Life Questionnaire (Walton, 1973; Iranian validation by Rahimi, 2005) assesses eight dimensions including fair compensation, safe working conditions, and growth opportunities. Statistical Analysis Plan: All analyses will use IBM SPSS Statistics v26.0. Composite scale scores (≥ 10 items) will be treated as continuous interval-level data for parametric analyses. Shapiro-Wilk tests will verify univariate normality. For the primary pre-post comparisons, paired-samples t-tests will be used with a Bonferroni-adjusted significance threshold. For the cross-sectional association between post-intervention motivation, 360-degree appraisal, and productivity, an enter-method multiple linear regression will be used. A supplementary regression will include T1 motivation as a covariate. Model assumptions will be verified (VIF \< 2.0 for multicollinearity; Durbin-Watson for autocorrelation). One-way ANOVA with partial eta-squared will examine whether demographic characteristics moderate post-intervention outcomes. Qualitative interview data from 10 semi-structured interviews will undergo thematic content analysis (open, axial, and selective coding) as a planned exploratory component of the study.