How and why job crafting influences creative performance? A resource allocation explanation of the curvilinear moderated relations

Drawing on the resource allocation theory, job crafting, and creativity literature, this paper examines a curvilinear (inverted U-shaped) relationship between job crafting and creative performance. Also investigated is how this curvilinear relationship is moderated by individuals’ cognitive ability and time scarcity. Two multi-wave multi-source survey studies conducted in mainland China provide convergent support. In Study 1, using data from 144 editors and their immediate supervisors, we confirmed our prediction that job crafting had an inverted U-shaped relationship with creative performance. In Study 2, the data from 198 matched employee-supervisor pairs replicated the findings in Study 1, while providing further support for the moderating effect of cognitive ability and time scarcity. Specifically, when individuals’ cognitive ability was lower (or time scarcity was higher), the inverted U-shaped relationship between job crafting and creative performance was stronger. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these studies.