Advancing work passion as a collective construct: A scoping review and concept introduction

This study defines work passion beyond the individual level by examining how passion operates within teams in organisational settings. Employing an integrative review of peer-reviewed journal articles, academic conference papers and conceptual studies, the study identifies 47 works that address work passion at the team level. Analysis of these sources reveals four recurring patterns: shared passion, in which teams experience aligned energy and collective commitment; passion contagion, whereby emotional states spread through interpersonal interactions; passion convergence, describing the gradual alignment of diverse individual passions; and passion diversity, which can stimulate creativity but also generate conflict if unmanaged. In accordance with these findings, collective work passion is introduced and defined as a dynamic state in which team members synchronise positive affect and internalise a shared sense of identity around their work. Key driving conditions include individual predispositions, social processes that enable emotional exchange and mutual support, organisational routines and leadership practices that reinforce collective values, and purposeful identity work that fosters psychological ownership. Core dynamics involve affective convergence, identity alignment, structural reinforcement and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. When effectively cultivated, collective work passion enhances coordination, innovation and resilience; however, without appropriate safeguards, it can also lead to groupthink, emotional strain and burnout. By synthesising existing research and clarifying the concept of collective work passion, this study lays the groundwork for future studies to explore its development, boundary conditions and impact on team outcomes.