Two sides to every coin: The mixed impacts of intelligent technology disruption and employees’ implicit belief on taking charge

Abstract

Intelligent technology disruption in tourism and hospitality has ignited discussions regarding its effects on employees' work-related behaviors. However, limited research has investigated whether this disruption influences tourism and hospitality employees' taking charge. Drawing on conservation of resources theory and implicit theory, we contend that intelligent technology disruption exerts mixed effects on employees' taking charge, and these effects are contingent on their different implicit beliefs. Specifically, for entity believers, their heightened perception of technology-driven job replacement insecurity stifles their taking charge. Conversely, for incremental believers, their enhanced level of technology-driven job transformation insecurity stimulates their taking charge. Our dual-path model was validated through five studies involving 1262 participants from hotels, travel agencies, and airlines. The findings offer theoretical implications, as well as practical insights for tourism and hospitality organizations seeking to manage employees’ taking charge effectively, thereby promoting bottom-up organizational change in an era steeped in rapid advancements in intelligent technologies.