Worker flexibility and its perceived contribution to performance: The moderating role of task characteristics

Abstract

AbstractThis study examined the relationship between worker flexibility in team‐based work and its perceived contribution to efficiency, work quality, and innovation, and the moderating role of task autonomy, skill utilization, and task monotony. Four‐hundred ninety‐four employees from 113 teams in 15 organizations completed and returned questionnaires. Skill utilization proved to be positively related to perceived contribution of flexibility to efficiency, work quality, and innovation. Furthermore, skill utilization strengthened the positive relationships between worker flexibility and its perceived contribution to efficiency and work quality and weakened the negative relationship between worker flexibility and its perceived impact on innovation. Task monotony was negatively related to the perceived quality benefits of being flexible. In addition, it weakened the positive relationship between worker flexibility and its perceived contribution to both efficiency and quality and strengthened the negative relationship with the perceived impact of flexibility on innovation. Task autonomy was positively related to the perceived contribution of flexibility to innovation and weakened the negative relationship between worker flexibility and the perceived innovation benefits of being flexible. The authors conclude that skill utilization and lack of monotony are important issues in relation to worker flexibility on all performance objectives that were considered, whereas task autonomy seems especially relevant when innovation is a key issue. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 17: 117–135, 2007.