The mediating role of work engagement on the relationship between interpersonal adaptability and dealing with uncertain and unpredictable work situations

Akyürek, Suat; Can, Ülker; Kiliçalp, Miray

doi:10.2478/ejthr-2023-0012

Abstract

This study investigates the mediating role of work engagement in the correlation between employees’ interpersonal adaptability and their ability to cope with uncertain and unpredictable work situations. Data were collected from 502 people working in the food and beverage departments of five-star hotels in Türkiye through a questionnaire. The features of the items of the constructs in the research model were tested by applying the SPSS/AMOS 22.0 software structural equation analysis package with the maximum likelihood (ML) method of estimating with a two-step approach. The results show that interpersonal adaptability has a positive impact on dealing with uncertain and unpredictable work situations, and work engagement has a substantial effect. Moreover, interpersonal adaptability has a positive impact on work engagement. In the light of the findings obtained from this research, theoretical contributions and practical suggestions are presented to practitioners and researchers.

References

Albrecht, S. L., Bakker, A. B., Gruman, J. A., Macey, W. H. & Saks, A. M. (2015). Employee engagement, human resource management practices and competitive advantage: An integrated approach. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, 2(1), 7–35. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOEPP-08-2014-0042
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Allworth, E. & Hesketh, B. (1999). Construct-oriented Biodata: Capturing Change-related and Contextually Relevant Future Performance. Internatıonal Journal of Selectıon and Assessment, 7(2), 97–111. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2389.00110
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Anderson, J. C., & Gerbing, D. W. (1988). Structural equation modeling in practice: A review and recommended two-step approach. Psychological Bulletin, 103(3), 411–423. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0033-2909.103.3.411
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Bakker, A. B. & Leiter, M. P. (2010). Work Engagement: A Handbook of Essential Theory and Research. Psychology Press.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Chan, D. (2000). Understanding adaptation to changes in the work environment: integrating individual difference and learning perspectives. In G. R. Ferris (Ed.), Research in personnel and human resources management (pp. 1–42). JAI Press. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254660217_Understanding_Adaptation_to_Changes_in_the_Work_Environment_Integrating_Individual_Difference_and_Learning_Perspectives
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Chan, D. (2014). Individual adaptability to changes at work: New directions in research. Routledge.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Charbonnier-Voirin, A., & Roussel, P. (2012). Adaptive performance: a new scale to measure individual performance in organizations. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 29(3), 280–293. https://doi.org/10.1002/cjas.232
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Charbonnier-Voirin, A., El Akremi, A., & Vandenberghe, C. (2010). A multilevel model of transformational leadership and adaptive performance and the moderating role of climate for innovation. Group & Organization Management, 35(6), 699–726. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059601110390833
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Charter, R. A. (1999). Sample size requirements for precise estimates of reliability, generalizability, and validity coefficients. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 21(4), 559–566. https://doi.org/10.1076/jcen.21.4.559.889
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Comrey, A. L., & Lee, H. B. (1973). A First Course in Factor Analysis. Academic Press.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Costa, P. L., Passos, A. M., & Bakker, A. B. (2016). The work engagement grid: predicting engagement from two core dimensions. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 31(4), 774–789. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-11-2014-0336
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Cullen, K. L., Edwards, B. D., Casper, W. C., & Gue, K. R. (2014). Employees’ adaptability and perceptions of change-related uncertainty: implications for perceived organizational support, job satisfaction, and performance. Journal of Business and Psychology, 29(2014), 269–280. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10869-013-9312-y
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Davis, B., Lockwood, A., Alcott, P., & Pantelidis, I. S. (2018). Food and Beverage Management. Routledge.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
de Jong, A., & de Ruyter, K. (2004). Adaptive versus proactive behavior in service recovery: the role of self-managing teams. Decision Sciences, 35(3), 457–491. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0011-7315.2004.02513.x
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
DeCarlo, L. T. (1997). On the meaning and use of kurtosis. Psychological Methods, 2(3), 292–307. https://doi.org/10.1037/1082-989X.2.3.292
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Diamantidis, A. D., & Chatzoglou, P. (2019). Factors affecting employee performance: an empirical approach. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 68(1), 171–193. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-01-2018-0012
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Didin, K., & Ben-Roy, D. (2017). The mediating roles of trust and value congruence on the relationship between transformational leadership and adaptive performance. Russian Journal of Agricultural and Socio-Economic Sciences, 64(4), 126–132. https://doi.org/10.18551/rjoas.2017-04.17
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Fornell, C., & Lacker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation model with unobservable variable and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800104
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Griffin, M.A., Neal, A., & Parker, S. K. (2007). A new model of work role performance: positive behavior in uncertain and interdependent contexts. Academy of Management Journal, 50(2), 327–47. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMJ.2007.24634438
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Griffin, M. A., Parker, S. K., & Mason, C. M. (2010). Leader vision and the development of adaptive and proactive performance: A longitudinal study. Journal of Applied Psychology, 95(1), 174–82. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017263
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Gui-Feng, D., Xin-Xia, L., & Rui, Z. (2009). Service sabotage behaviors: the conception, measurement and relevant variables. Advances in Psychological Science, 17(2), 426–431. https://journal.psych.ac.cn/adps/EN/abstract/abstract783.shtml
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Gwinner, K. P., Bitner, M. J., Brown, S. W., & Kumar, A. (2005). Service customization through employee adaptiveness. Journal of Service Research, 8(2), 131–148. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094670505279699
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., Anderson, R. E., & Tatham, R. L. (2006). Multivariate Data Analysis. Pearson Prentice Hall.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2014). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Sage.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hair, J. F., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2011). PLS-SEM: Indeed a silver bullet. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 19(2), 139–152. https://doi.org/10.2753/MTP1069-6679190202
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hair, J.F., Anderson, R.E., Tatham, R.L., & Black, W.C. (1998). Multivariate Data Analysis. Prentice Hall.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Han, T. Y., & Williams, K. J. (2008). Multilevel investigation of adaptive performance: individual and team-level relationship. Group & Organization Management, 33(6), 657–684. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059601108326799
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hesketh, B. & Neal, A. F. (1999). Technology and performance. In D. Ilgen & D. Pulakos (Eds.), The changing nature of performance (pp. 21–55). Josey-Bass Publishers.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Huang, J. L., Ryan, A. M., Zabel, K. L., & Palmer, A. (2014). Personality and adaptive performance at work: A meta-analytic investigation. Journal of Applied Psychology, 99(1), 162–179. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034285
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Johnson, J. W. (2001). The relative importance of task and contextual performance dimensions to supervisor judgments of overall performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(5), 984–996. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.86.5.984
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Jung, J. H., Soo, S. H. J., & Ang, S. (2023). Do divine struggles moderate the association between interpersonal conflict at work and worker well-being in Singapore? Journal of Religion and Health, 1(2023), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01776-w
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kim, J. -H., & Song, H. (2022). Examining the influence of multiple dimensions of authentic dining experiences. The Service Industries Journal, 1(2022), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2022.2059074
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kline, P. (1994). An easy guide to factor analysis. Routledge.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Le, H. N., Pham, T.-A. N., & Pham, T. N. (2022). The transformative outcomes of frontline employee adaptability for service value co-creation: a study of the banking sector. International Journal of Bank Marketing, 40(3), 401–424. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBM-03-2021-0093
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Li, H., Sajjad, N., Wang, Q., Muhammad Ali, A., Khaqan, Z., & Amina, S. (2019). Influence of transformational leadership on employees’ innovative work behavior in sustainable organizations: Test of mediation and moderation processes. Sustainability, 11(6), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061594
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Li, X., Sanders, K., & Frenkel, S. (2012). How leader–member exchange, work engagement and HRM consistency explain Chinese luxury hotel employees’ job performance. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 31(4), 1059–1066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2012.01.002
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Malik, M. S., & Kanwal, M. (2018). Impacts of organizational knowledge sharing practices on employees’ job satisfaction: Mediating roles of learning commitment and interpersonal adaptability. Journal of Workplace Learning, 30(1), 2–17. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-05-2016-0044
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Mc Loughlin, E., & Priyadarshini, A. (2021). Adaptability in the workplace: Investigating the adaptive performance job requirements for a project manager. Project Leadership and Society, 2(2021), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plas.2021.100012
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Olafsen, A. H., Nilsen, E. R., Smedsrud, S., & Kamaric, D. (2021). Sustainable development through commitment to organizational change: the implications of organizational culture and individual readiness for change. Journal of Workplace Learning, 33(3), 180–196. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-05-2020-0093
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Oliver, T. C. (2012). Applying a framework of interpersonal adaptability for assessment [Doctoral dissertation, University of Guelph]. University of Guelph. http://hdl.handle.net/10214/4960
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Oliver, T., & Lievens, F. (2014). Conceptualizing and assessing interpersonal adaptability: Towards a functional framework. In D. Chan (Ed.), Individual adaptability to changes at work: New directions in research (pp. 52–72). Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Parent, J. D., & Lovelace, K. J. (2018). Employee engagement, positive organizational culture and individual adaptability. On the Horizon, 26(3), 206–214. https://doi.org/10.1108/OTH-01-2018-0003
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ployhart, R. E., & Bliese, P.D. (2006). Individual Adaptability (I-ADAPT) Theory: conceptualizing the antecedents, consequences, and measurement of individual differences in adaptability. In C. S. Burke, L. G. Pierce, & E. Salas (Eds.), Understanding adaptability: a prerequisite for effective performance within complex environments (pp. 3–40). Elsevier.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Pradhan, R. K., & Jena, L. K. (2016). Employee performance at workplace: Conceptual model and empirical validation. Business Perspectives and Research, 5(1), 69–85. https://doi.org/10.1177/2278533716671630
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Pulakos, E. D., Arad, S., Donovan, M. A., & Plamondo, K. E. (2000). Adaptability in the workplace: Development of taxonomy of adaptive performance. Journal Applied Psychology, 85(4), 612–24. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.85.4.612
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Pulakos, E. D., Dorsey, D. W., & White, S. S. (2006). Adaptability in the workplace: Selecting an adaptive workforce. In C. S. Burke, L. G. Pierce, & E. Salas (Eds.), Understanding adaptability: A prerequisite for effective performance within complex environments (pp. 41–71). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1479-3601(05)06002-9
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Pulakos, E. D., Schmitt, N., Dorsey, D. W., Arad, S., Borman, W. C., & Hedge, J. W. (2002). Predicting adaptive performance: further tests of a model of adaptability. Human Performance, 15(4), 299–323. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327043HUP1504_01
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Salazar, J., Ashraf, H.-R., Tcheng, M., & Antun, J. (2005). Food service employee satisfaction and motivation and the relationship with learning food safety. Journal of Culinary Science & Technology, 4(2–3), 93–108. https://doi.org/10.1300/J385v04n02_07
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Savickas, M.L. (1997). Career adaptability: an integrative construct for life-span, life-space theory. The Career Development Quarterly, 45(3), 247–259. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.1997.tb00469.x
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Schaufeli, W. B., & Bakker, A. B. (2022). Work engagement: a critical assessment of the concept and its measurement. In W. Ruch, A. B. Bakker, L. Tay & F. Gander (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology Assessment (pp. 273–298). Hogrefe.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Schaufeli, W. B., Bakker, A. B., & Salanova, M. (2006). The measurement of work engagement with a short questionnaire: A cross-national study. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 66(4), 701–716. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164405282471
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Schaufeli, W. B., Salanova, M., Gonzalez-Romá, V., & Bakker, A. B. (2002). The measurement of engagement and burnout: A two sample confirmative factor analytic approach. Journal of Happiness Studies, 3(1), 71–92. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015630930326
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Smith, J. S., Fox, G. L., & Ramirez, E. (2010). An integrated perspective of service recovery: a sociotechnical systems approach. Journal of Service Research, 13(4), 439–452. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094670510375104
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sony, M. & Mekoth, N. (2017). Workplace spirituality, frontline employee adaptability and job outcomes: an empirical study. International Journal of Process Management and Benchmarking, 7(4), 437–465. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJPMB.2017.086925
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sony, M., & Mekoth, N. (2014). The dimensions of frontline employee adaptability in power sector: A grounded theory approach. International Journal of Energy Sector Management, 8(2), 240–258. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJESM-03-2013-0008
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sony, M., & Mekoth, N. (2015). Fleadapt scale: a new tool to measure frontline employee adaptability in power sector. International Journal of Energy Sector Management, 9(4), 496–522. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJESM-05-2014-0005
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sony, M., & Mekoth, N. (2016). The relationship between emotional intelligence, frontline employee adaptability, job satisfaction and job performance. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 30(2016), 20–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2015.12.003
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sony, M., & Mekoth, N. (2022). Employee adaptability skills for Industry 4.0 success: a road map. Production & Manufacturing Research, 10(1), 24–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/21693277.2022.2035281
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Üstün, F., & Büyükbaş, Ş. M. (2020). Uyum performansı ölçeğinin türkçe uyarlaması: geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması (Turkish adaptation the compliance performance scale validity and reliability study). Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 6(2), 637–56. https://doi.org/10.31592/aeusbed.687017
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Van Allen, S. (2013). Engagement at work: its effects on performance continues in tough economic times: key findings from Gallup’s Q12 meta-analysis of 1.4 million employees. Gallup. https://employeeengagement.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2012-Q12-Meta-Analysis-Summary-of-Findings.pdf
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Velury, J. (2005). Empowerment to the people: employees and managers must understand their problem-solving domains. Industrial Engineer, 37(5), 45–50.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Wang, M., Zhan, Y., McCune, E., & Truxillo, D. (2011). Understanding newcomers’ adaptability and work-related outcomes: testing the mediating roles of perceived P–E fit variables. Personnel Psychology, 64(1), 163–189. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2010.01205.x
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Wen, Z. L., & Ye, B. J. (2011). Evaluating test reliability: From coefficient alpha to internal consistency reliability. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 43(7), 821–829. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-20832-010
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Yadav, A., & Dhar, R. L. (2022). Effect of job crafting on hotel frontline employees’ work role performance: the role of work engagement and leader-member exchange. International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, 1(2022), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/15256480.2022.2114972
Search in Google Scholar Back to article

The mediating role of work engagement on the relationship between interpersonal adaptability and dealing with uncertain and unpredictable work situations

Abstract

Paradigm

My account