Does IT matter for work meaningfulness?: Exploring the mediating role of job crafting

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how technology characteristics facilitate employees' work meaningfulness through job crafting.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies the survey method and collects data from 357 Chinese participants with the experience of using information technology (IT) at work.

Findings

Technology characteristics (i.e. technology reconfigurability and technology customization) enable employees to craft their jobs, contributing to work meaningfulness.

Research limitations/implications

It remains to be seen whether the findings can be generalized to other cultural contexts. This study justifies the positive effects of IT but does not take into consideration the IT factors that might thwart job crafting.

Practical implications

IT is not merely a work tool. It is a contextual component strongly conducive to cultivating work meaningfulness. However, IT itself cannot directly lead to work meaningfulness. Instead, its contribution to job crafting matters.

Originality/value

The literature on the downstream impact of IT has yet to consider the value of IT for job crafting and work meaningfulness. This study verifies that job crafting is the linking mechanism between IT and work meaningfulness.

Citation

Xu, M., Wang, W., Ou, C.X. and Song, B. (2023), "Does IT matter for work meaningfulness?: Exploring the mediating role of job crafting", Information Technology & People, Vol. 36 No. 1, pp. 313-331. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-08-2020-0563