Xiang, L. and Li, F. (2026) Digital anxiety in construction: The mediating role of technological job insecurity and the buffering effect of transformational leadership. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 5(3), pp. 1-14. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose – This study examines the effects of intelligent organizational change on innovation performance, with a particular focus on the mediating role of technological job insecurity and the moderating influence of transformational leadership. As organizations increasingly adopt intelligent technologies, concerns about job security and skill obsolescence among employees are heightened, which may undermine their innovative capacity. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from a sample of 275 employees working in the construction engineering sector in China, an industry that is actively pursuing intelligent transformation and digitalization. Hierarchical regression analysis and PROCESS bootstrapping procedures were employed to test the hypothesized relationships among intelligent organizational transformation, technological job insecurity, innovation performance, and transformational leadership. Findings – The findings demonstrate that intelligent organizational change is positively associated with heightened technological job insecurity, which, in turn, exerts a detrimental effect on innovation performance. However, the presence of transformational leadership significantly moderates this relationship, buffering the negative impact of job insecurity and fostering higher levels of innovation performance. Originality/value – This study makes a novel contribution to the literature on organizational change and innovation by highlighting the psychological implications of intelligent technological transformations on employees in the construction engineering industry. It also underscores the critical role of transformational leadership in mitigating job insecurity and promoting innovation during periods of organizational transition. The results provide actionable insights for managers seeking to enhance innovation outcomes in environments characterized by rapid technological change.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | innovation performance; intelligent organizational change; technological job insecurity; transformational leadership |
| Index terms: | innovation performance, transformation, construction engineering, obsolescence, technological change, presence, regression analysis, transformational leadership, organizational change, manager, digitalization, methodology, anxiety, China |
| Subjects: | performance measurement, management, engineering methods, statistical analysis, mental health and wellbeing, business, research methods, Geography, asset management, practitioner, innovation studies, digital technology, environmental science |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Quality Management, Sustainability, Engineering Principles, Geographical Context, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here