Digital transformation and employee thriving: a conservation of resources model of job crafting and positive emotions

Amid accelerating digital transformation, organizational work patterns and employee competencies are undergoing systemic changes, making it crucial to understand how employees can thrive at work. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, this study proposes a moderated mediation model in which job crafting mediates the relationship between digital transformation and thriving at work, while positive emotions serve as a moderator. A three-wave time-lagged survey was conducted with 326 employees. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and bootstrap techniques to test the hypothesized relationships. Digital transformation significantly promotes employees’ thriving at work. It also facilitates job crafting behaviors, which partially mediate the effect of digital transformation on thriving. Furthermore, positive emotions significantly moderate this relationship—employees with higher positive emotions experience a stronger positive impact of digital transformation on thriving. These findings elucidate the mechanism by which digital transformation enhances employee thriving. The study highlights the importance of encouraging job crafting and supporting emotional well-being through flexible work design and personalized task assignment. These strategies can strengthen employees’ intrinsic motivation and engagement, ultimately promoting sustainable workforce development in digitally transforming organizations.