Team-based perceived insider status: Exploring the drivers and outcomes of freelancers' sense of belonging to their project teams

IF 5.2 1区心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, APPLIED

Journal of Vocational Behavior Pub Date : 2025-07-09 DOI:10.1016/j.jvb.2025.104153

Thomas Gigant , Kerstin Alfes , Almudena Cañibano

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study explores the changing nature of freelance work and challenges the traditional view of freelancers as outsiders to their organisation. Considering the increasing importance of project-based work, which emphasises collaboration and integration, we draw from social identity and exchange theories to suggest that perceived team support, social cohesion and trust within the team are crucial for enhancing freelancers' sense of belonging – a concept we encapsulate as ‘team-based perceived insider status’. We further argue that such a sense of belonging not only redefines their position within their teams, but it also plays an important role in strengthening their work engagement. Data from 229 freelancers in diverse roles and countries support this model and underline the essential role of team dynamics in this regard, shifting the role of freelancers from peripheral participants to integral team members. This research has substantial ramifications, particularly for human resource managers, as it underscores the significance of cultivating a collaborative team atmosphere to foster the involvement of freelancers. A fundamental shift in thinking is required to maximise the impact of freelancers in modern, project-based organisational frameworks.

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基于团队的内部感知状态：探索自由职业者对其项目团队归属感的驱动因素和结果

本研究探讨了自由职业者不断变化的本质，并挑战了将自由职业者视为组织局外人的传统观点。考虑到强调协作和整合的基于项目的工作越来越重要，我们从社会认同和交换理论中得出结论，认为团队支持、社会凝聚力和团队内部信任对于增强自由职业者的归属感至关重要——我们将这个概念概括为“基于团队的感知内部状态”。我们进一步认为，这种归属感不仅重新定义了他们在团队中的地位，而且在加强他们的工作投入方面也起着重要作用。来自229名不同角色和国家的自由职业者的数据支持这一模式，并强调了团队动态在这方面的重要作用，将自由职业者的角色从外围参与者转变为不可或缺的团队成员。这项研究具有重大的影响，特别是对人力资源经理来说，因为它强调了培养协作团队氛围以促进自由职业者参与的重要性。在现代的、以项目为基础的组织框架中，自由职业者的影响需要得到根本性的转变。

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来源期刊

Journal of Vocational Behavior PSYCHOLOGY, APPLIED-

CiteScore

13.10

自引率

5.40%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Journal of Vocational Behavior publishes original empirical and theoretical articles offering unique insights into the realms of career choice, career development, and work adjustment across the lifespan. These contributions are not only valuable for academic exploration but also find applications in counseling and career development programs across diverse sectors such as colleges, universities, business, industry, government, and the military. The primary focus of the journal centers on individual decision-making regarding work and careers, prioritizing investigations into personal career choices rather than organizational or employer-level variables. Example topics encompass a broad range, from initial career choices (e.g., choice of major, initial work or organization selection, organizational attraction) to the development of a career, work transitions, work-family management, and attitudes within the workplace (such as work commitment, multiple role management, and turnover).