The skills that help employees adapt: Empirical validation of a four-category framework

Area of Science:

• Organizational Psychology
• Management Science

Background:

• Organizations face constant change from globalization, technology, and crises.
• Adaptive skills are crucial for individuals and organizations to respond effectively.
• Existing frameworks for adaptive skills lack empirical validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To organize and define adaptive skills within organizational and psychological literature.
• To empirically test a proposed four-category framework for adaptive skills.
• To compare the proposed framework against existing models.

Main Methods:

• Literature review to define and situate adaptive skills.
• Empirical testing of a four-category framework (C+MAC).
• Comparative analysis against an alternative influential model.

Main Results:

• The C+MAC framework was empirically supported, with skills categorized effectively.
• The four-category framework demonstrated a better fit than the alternative model.
• Validated framework enhances understanding of individual-organizational engagement.

Conclusions:

• The C+MAC framework provides a validated structure for understanding adaptive skills.
• This framework aids in comprehending how individuals interact with organizational environments.
• The findings facilitate a better understanding of how organizations achieve their goals through adaptive individuals.