Reclaiming cognitive crafting: an integrative model of behavioral and cognitive practices in job crafting

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to present a model of how cognitive and behavioral crafting practices relate, reconciling the two dominant and conflicting job crafting theoretical perspectives. Design/methodology/approach Starting by examining the role of cognition and cognitive practices in job crafting, this paper reconstitutes the theorizing path that led to the exclusion of cognitive crafting from job crafting theory, explores existing theorizing efforts to (re)integrate cognitive crafting back into job crafting and proposes a new job crafting model (re)integrating behavioral and cognitive practices. Findings By conceiving cognitive crafting practices as a sensemaking layer that spans across and reciprocates with all behavioral crafting practices, the proposed model specifies the role of behavior and cognition (and the mutual relations between them) in job crafting, while resuming its meaning-making orientation. Originality/value This paper offers novel insights on underspecified aspects of the job crafting theory, improving its heuristic value. It clarifies how meaning is assembled and enacted by people in work environments, allowing for more integrated and comprehensive explanations about how people relate to work.

The influence of job crafting on the quality of care provided by nursing home employees: The moderating effect of organizational identification

“…On the other hand, cognitive crafting includes also demands and resources (Zhang & Parker, 2019 ). More recently, Melo et al (2021) also advocated for the integration of both theoretical perspectives, specifying the role of behavior and cognition, and their relations. In this sense, our research adds more empirical evidence to the differential functioning of behavioral and cognitive crafting when explaining perceived quality of care.…”

Volunteers as Active Shapers of their Work: The Role of Job Crafting in Volunteer Satisfaction and Organizational Identification

“…The present study distinguishes two job crafting forms-cognitive and behavioral crafting (Zhang & Parker, 2019), a distinction that closely follows the early conceptualization of job crafting into relational, task (also known as behavioral), and cognitive crafting 1 . In short, behavioral crafting entails doing 1 Since our focus is on cognitive crafting as this crafting form has not received much research attention in the nonwork context (De Bloom et al, 2020), we do not focus on or discuss the job crafting conceptualization based on job demands-resources theory (Tims et al, 2012) as this research stream specifically excludes cognitive crafting (Melo et al, 2021). more or fewer job-related aspects or doing them differently, while cognitive crafting means reframing a job (Melo et al, 2021).…”

“…In short, behavioral crafting entails doing 1 Since our focus is on cognitive crafting as this crafting form has not received much research attention in the nonwork context (De Bloom et al, 2020), we do not focus on or discuss the job crafting conceptualization based on job demands-resources theory (Tims et al, 2012) as this research stream specifically excludes cognitive crafting (Melo et al, 2021). more or fewer job-related aspects or doing them differently, while cognitive crafting means reframing a job (Melo et al, 2021). We elaborate on both crafting forms below.…”

“…Zhang and Parker (2019) suggest "cognitive crafting involves altering how one frames or views their tasks or job, which is self-initiated, self-targeted, intentional, and represents meaningful changes to the job aspects" (p. 130). Cognitive crafting often involves reframing and sensemaking (Melo et al, 2021). A prominent example of this form of crafting involves janitorial staff in a healthcare space reframing their work to perceive it as integral to the overall recovery of the patients (Wrzesniewski & Dutton, 2001).…”

“…More recent research has started to investigate the temporal dimension between behavioral and cognitive crafting. Some findings indicate that cognitive crafting may precede behavioral crafting (Melo et al, 2021) while others posit behavioral crafting precedes cognitive crafting (Romeo et al, 2020). In this study, we follow the more established research and treat behavioral and cognitive crafting as two related, but distinct forms of job crafting.…”