Investigating The Paradoxical Effect of Digital Connectivity On Employee Creativity: Countervailing Pathways and A Boundary Condition

Authors:

Abstract: This study investigates the complex effects of digital connectivity after work on employee creativity. We argue that digital connectivity is a double-edged sword which both facilitates resource gain while simultaneously leads to resource loss. Based on Conversation of Resource theory, we hypothesize that digital connectivity is positively related to employee creativity through structural empowerment acquisition. Meanwhile, it also causes resources loss and lead to lower levels of creativity via depletion. We further identify individual work-life separation preference as an important moderator. For employees with a high preference for work-life separation, the positive indirect relationship between digital connectivity and creativity would be weakened and the negative indirect relationship would be stronger. We find support for our hypotheses in a sample of 298 employees from a media company in Eastern China. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the role of digital connectivity in relation to employee creativity.

Track: TECH

Keywords: digital connectivity, creativity, structural empowerment acquisition, depletion, paradoxical effect