Exploring academic staff engagement in a time of crisis and change through the lens of a multilevel job demand-resources analysis

Craig Whitsed; Antonia Girardi (she/her); Scott Fitzgerald; John P Williams

doi:10.1080/1360080X.2024.2371076

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Exploring academic staff engagement in a time of crisis and change through the lens of a multilevel job demand-resources analysis

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Exploring academic staff engagement in a time of crisis and change through the lens of a multilevel job demand-resources analysis

Craig Whitsed, Antonia Girardi (she/her), Scott Fitzgerald and John P Williams

Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2024.2371076

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Abstract

Using Multilevel Job Demand-Resources theory, this research explores how crisis influenced perceptions about academic work engagement at individual, team, and organisational levels. The COVID-19 crisis led universities to make significant changes in response to health and fiscal impacts. Changes included restructuring, job shedding, and pivoting to online teaching which affected psychological well-being, and myriad affective outcomes. Thirty-six participants discussed COVID-19, changes in their university, effects on their work, and coping strategies. At the organisational level, participants consider their universities, specifically university leaders and leadership practices, afford limited resources to support responses to crisis and change leading to excessive job demands, negative health outcomes, and low motivation. At the team level, strong team relationships and supportive leaders were identified as important job resources to mitigate against some demands. At the individual level both coping and self-undermining practices were identified to manage demands. The implications on academic work engagement are elaborated.

Details

Title: Exploring academic staff engagement in a time of crisis and change through the lens of a multilevel job demand-resources analysis
Authors/Creators: Craig Whitsed - Curtin University
Antonia Girardi (she/her) - Murdoch University, College of Business
Scott Fitzgerald - Curtin University
John P Williams - Curtin University
Publication Details: Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management
Publisher: Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Identifiers: 991005680465907891
Murdoch Affiliation: Murdoch Business School; College of Business
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 6 Social Sciences; 6.3 Management; 6.3.48 Organizational Behavior
Web Of Science research areas: Education & Educational Research
ESI research areas: Social Sciences, general