How Work Autonomy Enhances Adaptive Performance: The Sequential Role of Job Crafting Towards Strengths and Demands–Abilities Fit in Times of Crisis

To address the societal challenge of building resilient work systems, organisations increasingly depend on employees’ adaptive performance, a key competence of the modern workforce. This study explored how distinct forms of autonomy (work scheduling, work criteria and work method autonomy) are translated into adaptive performance during crises by introducing job crafting towards strengths and demands–abilities (DA) fit as dual sequentially mediating mechanisms. Drawing on data from 1,259 employees and employing structural equation modelling, we found that work method and work criteria autonomy, but not work scheduling autonomy, significantly enhance adaptive performance through this sequential pathway. These findings advance the change management literature by demonstrating how work design can be strategically leveraged to support employees’ effective adaptation under crisis conditions. We also extend the job demands–resources theory and enrich work design research with a more nuanced understanding of work autonomy. For practitioners, the results offer actionable insights: targeted enhancement of work method and work criteria autonomy can foster proactive, strengths-based job crafting and improve DA fit, thereby sustaining adaptive performance and contributing to resilient work systems amid sudden and unanticipated changes.MAD statementThis study aims to make a difference (MAD) by systematically demonstrating conceptual boundaries in the adaptation literature and revealing how distinct forms of work autonomy enable employees to achieve adaptive performance during crises. By introducing job crafting towards personal strengths and demands–abilities fit as dual mediating mechanisms, we extend existing theories and enrich work design research. For practitioners, our findings highlight concrete levers for fostering employee resilience. More broadly, our study contributes to the societal challenge of establishing resilient work systems aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals on promoting sustainable economic growth, productive employment and decent work by providing both theoretical advancement and practical guidance.