Managers often crave employee engagement. But engagement is a complex concept. One only has to look at the Gallup Q12 survey, one of the popular tools for assessing engagement, to realise that there are at least 12 attributes. This in effect means that there are twelve variables that managers have to 'play with' to get engaged staff. The importance of employee commitment cannot be over stated.

Commitment is on the other hand a lot more straight forward and potential much easier to use.

This video contrasts employee engagement and commitment, arguing that commitment is fundamental to management. It goes on to suggest that commitment can be achieved though managers giving development opportunities to staff.