Strategic Responses to Employee Well-Being Issues in VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) Conditions: Expanding the JD-R (Job Demands–Resources) Model with Job Crafting

Thomas Volderauer, Margit Raich, Antje Bierwisch, Harald Stummer and Oliver Som ()
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Thomas Volderauer: Institute for Management and Economics in Health Care, UMIT TIROL—Private University for Health Sciences and Health Technology, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
Margit Raich: Vice-Rectorat for Research and Development, University College of Teacher Education Tyrol, 6010 Innsbruck, Austria
Antje Bierwisch: Department of Innovation & Technology Management, Management Center Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Harald Stummer: Institute for Management and Economics in Health Care, UMIT TIROL—Private University for Health Sciences and Health Technology, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
Oliver Som: Department of Innovation & Technology Management, Management Center Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 22, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Current work environments, driven by globalization, demographic changes, and digitalization, demand substantial adaptation, which leads to decreased employee well-being. While occupational psychology research has identified supportive mechanisms, it often lacks a deepened understanding of how interventions function. This study aims to analyze the impacts of VUCA contexts and leadership behavior on job crafting, focusing on white-collar workers. Our objective is to identify workplace configurations that safeguard employee health in dynamic settings. Utilizing the JD-R model augmented by job crafting as a theoretical framework, we conducted qualitative comparative case studies using the GABEK ® methodology to analyze and systematize data. This approach captures complex organizational interrelationships through sentence analysis, transforming subjective meanings into a comprehensive network and providing deeper insights into organizational dynamics. Research findings reveal that evolving work demands, notably from digital transformations, impact knowledge management, communication, and employee well-being. IT discrepancies and communication deficits intensify work complexity, underscoring the need for enhanced management frameworks. Proactive and adaptive leadership, along with job crafting, is crucial for protecting health and enhancing performance in fast-paced digital environments. These strategies promote structured decision-making and efficient knowledge management, fostering a resource-oriented culture that enhances employee well-being and overall effectiveness.

Keywords: job demands resource model; occupational psychology; leadership; knowledge management; digital transformation; employee well-being; qualitative comparative case studies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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