Unveiling the root causes and results of illegitimate tasks: A systematic literature review

Aim/purpose – Employees are expected to perform duties consistent with their professional roles. However, they are often required to undertake tasks they perceive as unreasonable or unnecessary. The concept of illegitimate tasks has garnered increasing attention since its introduction. Illegitimate tasks have been found to account for unique variations in well-being and stress. A systematic narrative review of the literature on illegitimate tasks is necessary since the relevant literature is still in its infancy.

Design/methodology/approach – A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines on three primary journal databases: Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost. The citations were screened out based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Findings – Illegitimate tasks represent the job designs and assignments of tasks within organizations. Various factors contribute to stress caused by illegitimate tasks among employees. This review encapsulates the antecedent factors of illegitimate tasks (leadership roles, psychological factors, workplace factors, individual characteristics, job factors) and results (emotions, cognition, work attitude, health, well-being, behavioral factors). Furthermore, this review provides insight into moderators and mediators associated with illegitimate tasks.

Research implications/limitations – One limitation of this SLR is the possibility of publication bias, as it primarily includes published studies, potentially overlooking unpublished and non-English studies. Furthermore, the included studies’ quality and heterogeneity may compromise the review’s generalizability, which could limit its scope.

Originality/value/contribution – This review also offers directions for future academic research. It suggests developing new stress measures for illegitimate tasks designed to the specific functions of organizational tasks rather than relying on a general illegitimate tasks scale.