Is Insecurity the Devil? The Double-Edged Sword Effect of Team Job Insecurity on Team Resilience

1. Introduction

With the increasing dynamics of the environment characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA, Millar, Groth, & Mahon, 2018), resilience has become more crucial for organizations (DesJardine et al., 2019; Dimitriadis, 2021; Sajko et al., 2021; Stoverink et al., 2020; Ortiz-de-Mandojana & Bansal, 2016). For example, Huawei—a renowned Chinese company—has developed a strategic reserve system, empowering young leaders to “lead the troops in battle”, which ensuring the organization remains passionate and dynamic. Amazon Web Service has implemented a DevOps culture, which enhances the team collaboration and ongoing improvement of team resilience. Organizational resilience refers to the adaptive capacity of organization to actively adjust to and manage pressure under the risky context (Weick et al., 1999), recover from crises or challenges, and even develop and transform in terms of organizational growth (Hillmann & Guenther, 2021). However, in the context of VUCA, organizations may confront significant challenges to their resilience due to the employees’ concerns about job insecurity, which reflects individuals’ perception of threats to their job continuity or concerns about the future stability of their job features such as salary and position (Klandermans & van Vuuren, 1999). Unfortunately, the mechanisms and boundary conditions of how team job insecurity affects team resilience remain under-investigated.

Specifically, first, previous research exploring antecedents has focused on organizational resilience but largely overlooked team resilience (e.g., Barasa et al., 2018). Empirical studies has examined the role of leadership, organizational culture, organizational support, and psychological capital in affecting organizational resilience. However, compared to organizations, teams have fewer resources and face more pronounced employee conflicts in the uncertainty (Costa, Passos, & Bakker, 2015; Hobfoll et al., 2018). Thus, conclusions drawn from research on organization resilience fail to adequately apply to explaining the formation of team resilience. Although the potential negative impact of uncertainty on team resilience has been suggested (Khuan, 2024), there is a lack of empirical evidence and in-depth theoretical discussion.

Second, researchers have predominantly focused on the resource-based perspective, leaving a limited understanding of the cognitive mechanisms through which job insecurity impacts team resilience. Based on resource conservation theory (Hobfoll, 1989), existing research has suggested that digital technologies provide teams with resources to manage uncertain events, which enhances team resilience (Miceli et al., 2021). However, in the era of VUCA, team members typically possess a high degree of job insecurity (Wilson, Lee, Fitzgerald, Oosterhoff, Sevi, & Shook, 2020; Wang, Le Blanc, Demerouti, Lu, & Jiang, 2019). In this context, on the one hand, team members may focus more on the potential growth and benefits in the challenge (Griffin, & Grote, 2020) and proactively confront environmental stress, which in turn strengthens team resilience. On the other hand, they may also pay more attention to the potential losses and harms with threats (Mitchell et al., 2019), which corresponds to hindrance appraisal, provoking negative emotion-driven responses that diminish team resilience. Despite these insights, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of the mechanism of job insecurity on team resilience from the perspective of stress appraisal.

Third, employees in teams with different task characteristics may adopt different coping strategies for job insecurity (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), leading to differing levels of team resilience. Team task interdependence refers to the extent to which employees interact with or rely on other team members in terms of information, resources, and technologies to complete the tasks (Courtright et al., 2015; Parker, 2014). We propose that when the level of team task interdependent is high, team members are more likely to cooperate with others to cope with the challenges or threats, which enhances team resilience. However, research on the boundary conditions through which team job insecurity affects team resilience via stress appraisal from the perspective of team tasks characteristics remains to be expanded.

Taken together, drawing on team stress appraisal theory, this study examines the mechanisms and boundary conditions through which team job insecurity influences team resilience via team stress appraisal (See FIGURE 1). We make three key contributions to the research on team resilience. First, focusing on the VUCA context, we investigate the role of team job insecurity in shaping team resilience, thereby enriching the antecedent research of team resilience and validates the propositions of prior qualitative research (Lumpkin & Dess, 2001). Second, based on team stress appraisal theory, we explore the team challenge appraisal and hindrance appraisal as two key mediators, fulfilling the understanding of mechanisms through which job insecurity impacts team resilience. Third, by further introducing team task interdependence, we develop a moderated mediation model to illustrate the boundary conditions under which team job insecurity affects team resilience. The conclusions of our study offer valuable insights for team leaders to deal with job insecurity and enhance team resilience. The full model is as follows:

2. Hypotheses Development

2.1. Team Job Insecurity, Team Challenge Appraisal and Hinderance Appraisal

In the current society characterized by fierce competition and rapid change, individuals perceive heightened job insecurity with the heightened demands of knowledge and skills (Hellgren, & Sverke, 2003; Wang, Le Blanc, Demerouti, Lu, & Jiang, 2019; Wilson, Lee, Fitzgerald, Oosterhoff, Sevi, & Shook, 2020). Especially when team resources are more constrained than those at the organization level, individuals are more likely to worry about the stability and consistency of resources such as job opportunities, financial rewards, career development prospects, and social supports (Jiang & Lavaysse, 2018). However, the perception of resource losses can lead to the psychological stress responses with the desire to protect their resources (Hobfoll, 2011).

We expect that team job insecurity is positively associated with team challenge appraisal. Challenge appraisal is predominantly defined as individuals perceiving job stressors as favorable, believing they can overcome them and that they will benefit their career progression (Webster, Beehr, & Love, 2011). Job insecurity stimulates proactive individuals to interpret challenging task and uncertainty as the opportunities to promoting their abilities and career capital (Aryee, Chay, & Chew, 1996). Thus, these individuals devote more efforts to work and learn new skills to enhance their competitiveness. Previous studies have shown that complex and dynamic tasks create learning and growing opportunities for employees and invoke their curiosity, excited emotions, and job engagement (Griffin & Grote, 2020; Cullinane et al., 2013). Additionally, research has also indicated that when individuals believe they have the ability and resources to cope with the job threats and benefits from them, they are more likely to have challenge appraisal to the stressors and uncertainty (Jerusalem & Schwarzer, 1992; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Li et al., 2018) and proactively mobilizing their resources to take effective actions to manage the situation (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Therefore, we hypothesize:

H1a: 

Team job insecurity is positively associated with team challenge appraisal.

We speculate that team job insecurity also be positively associated with team hindrance appraisal. Hindrance appraisal is described as individuals perceiving job stressors as unfavorable, believing they are difficult to overcome, which obstructs career progression (Ma, Peng, & Wu, 2021). The fear and anxiety induced by job insecurity may cause pessimistic individuals to view this stressor as a threat to career development. Specifically, such individuals may be concerned about failing to meet the teams’ requirements and expectations of their teams, which in turn increase their perception of heightened hindrance-related stress from work processes, task conflict, and organizational change (Sverke, Hellgren, & Näswall, 2002). Furthermore, the uncontrollability of environment leads these individuals to pay more attention to the difficulties and potential losses or failures (Mitchell et al., 2019). Especially when resources are insufficient to cope with job insecurity, they may experience negative emotions (Sverke et al., 2002; Wang, 2015) and work-life imbalance (Bell, Rajendran, & Theiler, 2012), thereby leading to team hindrance appraisal. The literature indicates that when individuals perceive a loss of control at work, they may experience anxiety and find it difficult to accurately assess the consumption of work resources and the corresponding returns (Liu, Li, Taris, & Peeters, 2022). This lead them to reduce their willingness to proactively take on extra tasks and become resistance to new job demands (Dane, 2018). Thus, we propose:

H1b: 

Team job insecurity is positively associated with team hindrance appraisal.

2.2. Mediating Role of Team Challenge Appraisal and Hinderance Appraisal

We expect that team job insecurity will positively impact team challenge appraisal, which in turn enhances team resilience. When team members perceive a high level of job insecurity, proactive individuals may realize that both opportunities and challenges are present. This mindset will motivate them to actively embrace complex tasks (Tu et al., 2024；Piccoli, Reisel, & De Witte, 2021). Moreover, team members may harness energy and passion despite limited resources and time (Kavussanu, Dewar, & Boardley, 2014) to deal with challenges, enhance the team’s ability to handle diverse complex situations, and achieve team goals (Kaplan, LaPort, & Waller, 2013). These efforts collectively contribute to team resilience. Research has indicated that insecurity within the team work environment could cultivate empathy and a collaborative spirit, strengthening team cohesion (Hu et al., 2018). Additionally, the positive emotionality within the team boosts team resilience through team reciprocity and self-reflection (Hartmann et al., 2021; Meneghel et al., 2016). Thus, we further propose:

H2a: 

Team challenge appraisal mediates the relationship between team job insecurity and team resilience.

Team job insecurity may also positively influence team hindrance appraisal, which in turn decreases team resilience. When confronted with job insecurity, competition for scarce resources within the team will intensify. Thus, team members may feel under pressure, a loss of control, and anxiety (Bao & Zhong, 2021; De Witte, 1999). These feelings undermine the harmonious team climate (Costa et al., 2015). In contrast, team members will focus on their individual survival and performance rather than team goals, decreasing team collaborative desire and team cohesion. Previous research has noted that team job insecurity can lead employees to adopt defensive and avoidance behaviors, such as limiting information sharing and cooperation (Hsu & Chang, 2014; Nifadkar & Bauer, 2016). Studies have also indicated that hindrance stressors can significantly influence negative emotions, such as anxiety and worry, as well as emotional exhaustion (Rodell & Judge, 2009; Charkhabi, 2019), diminish team members’ organizational identification, and promote counterproductive behaviors (Piccoli, Reisel, & De Witte, 2021; Jiang & Probst, 2016). Therefore, we hypothesize:

H2a: 

Team hindrance appraisal mediates the relationship between team job insecurity and team resilience.

2.3. Moderating and Moderated Mediating Effects of Team Task Interdependence

We further expect that team task interdependence is an important contextual variable in the indirect relationship between team job insecurity and team resilience. When task interdependence is high, team members realize that they cannot complete the task solely by relying on the information and resources at their disposal. They must rely on each other’s expertise, information, and resources to collaborate in addressing challenging tasks and sharing team results (Courtright et al., 2015). Therefore, they will proactively engage in interactions and contacts among team members (e.g., Courtright et al., 2015), promoting team effectiveness (Van der Vegt & Van de Vliert, 2005) and team cohesion.

In the face of job insecurity, teams perceive their environment as offering opportunities to build competitive advantage, such as developing new core competencies and increasing market share, and thus have a high level of challenge pressure and tend to invest more effort in improving the team’s competitiveness (e.g., Wolf, Eys, Sadler, & Kleinert, 2015). when the level of team task interdependence is high, team members perceive the improvement of the team’s overall competence as the basis for the realization of their self-interests, and thus tend to take the initiative to work for the improvement of the team (e.g., Le Blanc, González-Romá, & Wang, 2021), in this case, organizations are more likely to gather resources and synchronize actions to confront stressors and emergencies, demonstrating a high level of resilience (Kahn et al., 2018). leading to the strengthening of team resilience. In support of our proposal, research has indicated that task interdependence increases the positive attitude towards team members (Ramamoorthy & Flood, 2004), stimulating citizenship behaviors and other interactive behaviors within the team (Bachrach et al., 2006). Thus, we propose:

H3a: 

Team task interdependence moderates the relationship between team job insecurity and team challenge appraisal. Specifically, when the level of team task interdependence is high, this relationship will be stronger.

H3b: 

Team task interdependence moderates the indirect effect of team job insecurity on team resilience via team challenge appraisal. Specifically, when the level of team task interdependence is high, this indirect effect will be stronger.

In the face of job insecurity, team members recognize the scarcity of resources and fear that they will not be able to achieve the team’s goals, resulting in a loss of interest among members, which generates negative emotions and thus higher ratings of obstructive stress. At this point, when team task interdependence is high, team members recognize that strengthening team communication and improving team performance are key ways to avoid negative outcomes, team members will alter their negative and avoidant attitudes, engage in collaboration with each other, and effectively reduce the burden of individual work pressure and the need to deal with difficult work issues (LePine et al., 2005). These actions further boost the team’s ability to handle difficulties and its overall resilience (Barton & Kahn, 2019; Varajão et al., 2021). Existing research has suggested that resilient team members are better able to handle stress (Varajão et al., 2021) and promote team performance (Van der Beek et al., 2015) when work problems are highly complex and likely to cause conflict (Varajão et al., 2021). Thus, we hypothesize:

H4a: 

Team task interdependence moderates the relationship between team job insecurity and team hindrance appraisal. Specifically, when the level of team task interdependence is high, this relationship will be weaker.

H4b: 

Team task interdependence moderates the indirect effect of team job insecurity on team resilience via team hindrance appraisal. Specifically, when the level of team task interdependence is high, this indirect effect will be weaker.

3. Method

3.1. Samples and Procedures

532 employees of the first-line 114 production team of a manufacturing group company in a province on the east coast of China participate in this study. The city’s manufacturing industry, which relies predominantly on foreign trade, has experienced significant challenges due to the deterioration of the trade situation. This has led to a notable decline in sales volume, causing widespread feelings of job insecurity among the production team working at the front line. Consequently, the sample of the study demonstrated a high degree of alignment with the research question. The data collection process of the present study can be divided into the following steps: firstly, the random selection of the study sample. We first obtained the support of the company to get the list of employees from the Human Resources Department and randomly selected the sample from them. Secondly, the purpose of the study was informed. The subjects were informed that the content of the questionnaire pertains to the survey team’s resilience, that its completion is intended to contribute to the development of a scientific research paper, and that the results of the questionnaire will be utilized exclusively for academic research. It was emphasized that the questionnaire is designed to provide an overall analysis and will not disclose any personal information or be associated with individual salaries or performance evaluations. The ultimate sample size is contingent upon the employees’ consent to participate in the study. Thirdly, a randomized questionnaire was conducted. In order to address any issues that might arise during the questionnaire process, two supervisors from human resources and two members of the research team collaborated on the entire questionnaire distribution and collection process.

In order to effectively avoid common method bias (Podsakoff, MacKenzie, Lee, & Podsakoff, 2003), this study conducted a three-wave time lagged data collection. Specifically, at the first time point, employees were asked to report their job insecurity, as well as their demographic variables. Two weeks later, at the second time point, employees were asked to report their challenging and hindrance appraisal, and task interdependence. Finally, two weeks later, at the third time point, employees were asked to report perceived team resilience. The present study was a team-level study and therefore the individual-level measures of perceived job insecurity, challenging and hindrance appraisal, perceived task interdependence and perceived team resilience were ultimately aggregated.

During the first round of data collection, we distributed a total of 532 questionnaires to 114 teams, and 511 questionnaires were returned (106 teams, response rate 96.05%). In the second round of data collection, we distributed 511 questionnaires (106 teams), and 486 questionnaires were returned (103 teams, response rate 95.10%). In the third round of data collection, we distributed 486 questionnaires (103 teams), and 464 questionnaires were returned (96 teams, response rate 95.47%). Due to the effective controlling in questionnaire process, the questionnaire recovery rate is relatively high, and the final valid questionnaires are 464 (96 team) after matched. In the sample of this study, the male employees are 199 (42.9%); the average age of the sample is 35.11 years (SD = 9.61). There were 330 employees with high school education and above (71.10%); the average tenure of the sample was 9.12 years (SD = 7.53).

3.2. Measures

In this study, all measures were administered in Chinese, following the translation/back-translation process to maintain their validity (Brislin, 1980). To avoid common method bias, the measurement of all variables items was conducted utilizing a 5-point Likert scale rating method (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree), with the exception of job insecurity, and task interdependence item, which was evaluated through a 7-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree, 7=strongly agree).

Job Insecurity. We used De Witte’s four-item Job Insecurity Scale (De Witte, 2000; Vander Elst, De Witte, & De Cuyper, 2014) to measure employees job insecurity. Sample question items such as “I feel insecure about the future of my job” (α =.75) and aggregation statistics supported aggregating to the team level: ICC1 = .15, ICC2 = .46; the mean of rwg (j) = .75 (James,Demaree, &Wolf, 1984).

Challenge and hindrance appraisals. We used Prem et al. (2017) six-item to measure employees challenge and hindrance appraisal. It has been demonstrated that the scale demonstrates excellent reliability (Lu, Kluemper, & Tu, 2023). Three of the items were used to measure challenging appraisal, with sample items such as “I view my tasks as challenging”(α =.74). The aggregation statistics supported aggregating to the team level: ICC1 = .16, ICC2 = .47; the mean of rwg (j) = .86. The other three items were used to measure hinderance appraisal, with sample items such as “my work hinders me from attaining personal goals”(α =.82), and the results of aggregation statistics supported aggregating to the team level: ICC1 = .34, ICC2 = .72; the mean of rwg (j) = .82.

Team resilience. We used three items developed by Kantur and Say (2015) to measure team resilience. Sample question items such as “we develop alternatives in order to benefit from negative circumstances” (α = .83), and the aggregation statistics supported aggregating to the team level: ICC1 = .32, ICC2 = .70; the mean of rwg (j) = .86.

Task interdependence. We used five-items scale developed by Van der Vegt and Janssen (2003) to measure task interdependence. Sample items such as “My colleagues need information and advice from me to perform their jobs well (α =.79), and the aggregation statistics supported aggregating to the team level: ICC1 = .48, ICC2 = .82; the mean of rwg (j) = .80.

3.3. Data Analysis Strategy

Due to team-level nature of this study, we firstly aggregated the individual-level variable measures into team level. Secondly, by using of the Mplus7.0 (Muthén & Muthén, 2017), we test the indirect effect of team job insecurity on team resilience via team challenge appraisal, and team hinderance appraisal, respectively. Third, we conducted a Monte Carlo sampling method to estimate the confidence intervals for these indirect effects (Preacher, Zyphur, & Zhang, 2010). Finally, we test the moderating effects of task interdependence, plot the simple slope of this moderation effect, and tested the moderated mediation effect of task interdependence, and conducted a Monte Carlo sampling method to estimate the confidence intervals for these moderated mediation effects.

4. Results

We conducted conformative factor analysis by using of Mplus 7.0 (Muthén & Muthén, 2012). The results of the 5-factor model fit well (χ2 = 266.96，df = 125，p < 0.00，CFI = 0.95，TLI=0.93，RMSEA = 0.05，SRMR = 0.04), and better than alternative model (four-fator model, collapsing challenge appraisal and hinderance appraisal, χ2 = 755.63，df = 129，p < 0.00，CFI = 0.76，TLI=0.72，RMSEA = 0.10，SRMR = 0.09; three-fator model, collapsing team challenge appraisal, team hinderance appraisal and team resilience, χ2 = 1035.22, df = 132，p < 0.00，CFI = 0.66，TLI=0.60，RMSEA = 0.12，SRMR = 0.11, which provides evidence that the variables in this research have good discriminant validity. The means, variances and correlations of the variables are displayed in Table 1. The findings indicated a positive correlation between team job insecurity and challenging appraisal (r = .30, p < .01) and team hinderance appraisal (r = .27, p < .01). Further, team challenge appraisal was positive with team resilience (r = .43, p < .01), and team hinderance appraisal was negative association with team resilience (r = –.38, p < .01), which basically support the hypotheses in this study.

4.1. Mediation Effects Test

Hypotheses 1a and 2a suggest that team job insecurity is positively associated with team challenge appraisal, and team challenge appraisal mediates the indirect effect of team job insecurity on team resilience. The results showed that team job insecurity was positive related to team challenge appraisal (β = .22, p < .01, See Table 2), and that the indirect effect of team job insecurity on team resilience via team challenge appraisal was significant (.13, 95% CI [.028, .227]). By using of Monte Carlo simulations method (Preacher, Zyphur, & Zhang, 2010), the results showed that the 95% confidence interval (20,000 repetitions) for this indirect effect did not contain zero (CI [.037, .237]), thus, Hypothesis 1a and Hypothesis 2a were supported.

Based on the same test procedure, the results indicated that team job insecurity was positive related to team hindrance appraisal (β = .31, p < .05, See Table 2), and that the indirect effect of team job insecurity on team resilience through team hindrance appraisal was significant (–.12, 95% CI [–.220, –.021]); therefore, Hypothesis 1b and Hypothesis 2b were supported.

4.2. Moderation Effect and Moderated Mediation Effect Test

Hypotheses 3a argues that task interdependence moderates the relationship between team insecurity and team challenge appraisal, and moderates the relationship between team insecurity and team hindrance appraisal. The results showed that the effect of team job insecurity on team challenge appraisal was positively significant (.80, SE = .17, 95% CI [.477, 1.124], see Table 3, Figure 2) for teams with high level of task interdependence (+1 SD), however, this effect was non-significant (.29, SE= .18, 95% CI [–.062, .644]) for team with low level of task interdependence (–1 SD), and there was a significant difference in the relationship between team job insecurity on team challenge appraisal when task interdependence were high versus low (.51, SE = .23, 95% CI [.052, .968]). The Monte Carlo simulations showed that the confidence interval for this indirect effect not contain zero (20,000 repetitions, 95% CI [–.233, –.031]), thus, Hypothesis 3a was supported.

The results indicated that the effect of team job insecurity on team hindrance appraisal was positively significant (–.54, SE = .10, 95% CI [–.728, –.349], see Table 3, Figure 3) for teams with low level of task interdependence (–1 SD), however, this effect was non-significant (–.20, SE = .11, 95% CI [–.423, .015]) for team with high level of task interdependence (+1 SD), and there was a significant difference in the effect of team job insecurity on team hindrance appraisal when task interdependence were high versus low (.34, SE = .14, 95% CI [.062, .609]), therefore, Hypothesis 4a was supported.

Hypotheses 3b and 4b propose that task interdependence enhance the indirect effect of team insecurity on team resilience through team challenge appraisal, and enhance the indirect effect of team insecurity on team resilience via team hindrance appraisal. The results indicated that the indirect effect of team insecurity on team resilience via team challenge appraisal was non-significant (γ = .11, SE = .06, 95% CI [–.012, .234]). Specifically, this indirect effect was significant for teams with a high level of task interdependence (+1 SD, γ = .18, SE = .07, 95% CI [.042, .307], see Table 3), however, this indirect effect was non-significant for teams with low level of task interdependence (–1 SD, γ = .06, SE = .04, 95% CI [–.024, .151]). However, the Monte Carlo simulations showed that the confidence interval for this moderated effect not contain zero (20,000 repetitions, 95% CI [.005, .193), supporting Hypotheses 3b.

Meanwhile, the indirect effect of team insecurity on team resilience via team hindrance appraisal was non-significant (γ = .11, SE = .06, 95% CI [–.009, .220], see Table 3), for teams with a low level of task interdependence (–1 SD, γ = –.17, SE = .07, 95% CI [–.304, –.034], see Table 3), however, this indirect effect was non-significant for teams with high level of task interdependence (+1 SD, γ = –.06, SE = .04, 95% CI [–.147, .019]). However, the Monte Carlo simulations showed that the confidence interval for this moderated effect not contain zero (20,000 repetitions, 95% CI [.008, .182), supporting Hypotheses 4b.

5. Discussion

Derived from a questionnaire survey conducted on 96 teams and 464 employees, we conclude that team job insecurity can increase team challenge appraisal, which in turn enhances team resilience. Meanwhile, team job insecurity can disrupt team resilience through team hindrance appraisal. Furthermore, team task interdependence strengthens the positive relationship between challenge appraisal and team resilience, while mitigating the negative correlation between hindrance appraisal and team resilience. These findings have several important theoretical contributions and practical implications.

5.1. Theoretical Contributions and Practical Implications

First, in the context of the VUCA era, this study examines the impact of team job insecurity on team resilience, thereby advancing research on the antecedents of team resilience. Previous studies have explored the antecedents of organizational resilience, such as team resources (Hartwig, Clarke, Johnson, & Willis, 2020) and team structure (Chapman, Lines, Crane, Ducker, Ntoumanis, Peeling, & Gucciardi, 2020). However, there has been limited focus on the antecedents of team resilience (Barasa et al., 2018). As global competition intensifies, market demands shift rapidly, and unexpected crises frequently impact organizations, team members are generally experiencing a high level of job insecurity. Therefore, within the context of the VUCA era, this study examines the relationship between team job insecurity and team resilience, enriching research on the antecedents of team resilience.

Second, focusing on team processes, we reveal the mechanism through which team job insecurity influences team resilience. We introduce team stress appraisal theory to examine the (Lazarus, DeLongis, Folkman, & Gruen, 1985) diverse effects of team job insecurity on team resilience, which deepens our understanding of the mechanisms through which team job insecurity affects team resilience. Specifically, our findings show that team job insecurity enhances team resilience via team challenge appraisal, while decreasing team resilience via team hindrance appraisal. This conclusion expands upon previous research based on motivation logic, with scholars suggesting that team job insecurity negatively affects employees’ organizational citizenship behavior (Callea, Urbini, & Chirumbolo, 2016) and reduces work engagement (Lee, Sim, & Tuckey, 2024), thereby diminishing team resilience. Therefore, our study contributes to exploring the “black box” of the process through which job insecurity affects team resilience.

Third, by showing the moderating effect of team task interdependence, we broaden the understanding of the boundary conditions that influence the effect of team stress appraisal on team resilience. Research focusing on leadership characteristics has shown that leaders with a performance goal orientation reduce the positive effect of team voice on team resilience (Fisher, LeNoble, & Vanhove, 2023). Additionally, studies examining team climate characteristics suggest that a diverse leadership environment can amplify the influence of inclusive leadership on team resilience (Hundschell, Backmann, Tian, & Hoegl, 2024). In contrast to these studies, we focus on team task characteristics, with findings showing that team task interdependence enhances the positive relationship between team job insecurity and team resilience via team challenge appraisal, while decreasing the negative relationship between team job insecurity and team resilience via team hindrance appraisal. Therefore, our study expands the explanatory power of team resilience and advances our knowledge of the contextual mechanisms through which team job insecurity affects team resilience.

The current research also provides important practical implications. First, our study finds that team challenge appraisal exerts a positive effect on team resilience, while team hindrance appraisal negatively impacts team resilience. Thus, team managers can highlight the demands for knowledge and skills from team members in job design and provide support through training to continuously improve the work skills of team members. These practices can heighten team members’ challenge appraisal while diminishing hindrance appraisal, which in turn enhances team resilience. Second, in the context of the VUCA era, managers should pay more attention to team members’ job insecurity, ensuring employees realize that the influence of job insecurity can be shaped by individual cognition. Managers can maximize the positive effect of team job insecurity by promoting team members’ efficacy and perception of support, such as involving them in decision-making processes, offering timely feedback on their work, and providing resources that continuously improve their willingness and ability to collaborate. Third, managers can enhance the positive impact of team job insecurity on team resilience by redesigning jobs to promote team task interdependence. For example, managers can encourage team collaboration by strengthening the connections between team tasks and setting team-based performance indicators.

5.2. Limitations and Future Directions

Several limitations to the present study should be noted. First, there may exist alternative mechanisms that explain the effect of team job insecurity on team resilience, such as resource conservation theory. Team job insecurity may depletes substantial cognitive resources from team members in their daily tasks. To preserve essential resources for dealing with unexpected events, employees may engage in knowledge hiding behaviors, which lower team innovation and, consequently, negatively impact team resilience. Therefore, future research can expand the mechanisms through which team job insecurity impacts team resilience based on resource conservation theory. Second, this study identifies the moderating role of team task interdependence from the perspective of task characteristics, while other boundary conditions remain to be explored. For example, leadership traits may be another important perspective. Transformational leadership has a role-model effect, and when employees observe their leaders engaging in job crafting, they are likely to imitate this behavior (Hetland, Hetland, Bakker, & Demerouti, 2018). Employee’s cognitive job crafting can change their cognition of their work stress, thereby influence the effect of job insecurity on diverse appraisal process. Future research is needed to exam these assumption. Despite these limitations, our study contributes to the initial exploration of the antecedents, mechanisms, and boundary conditions of team resilience.

6. Conclusion

Using a three-wave survey design, the current research demonstrates that team challenge appraisal mediates the positive effect of team job insecurity on team resilience, while team hindrance appraisal mediates the negative effect of team job insecurity on team resilience. Team task interdependence plays a positive role throughout the entire mechanism. Specifically, team task interdependence strengthens the positive indirect effect of team job insecurity on team resilience via team challenge appraisal, while weakening the negative indirect effect of team job insecurity on team resilience via team hindrance appraisal. These findings highlight the significance of managing team job insecurity in the VUCA environment and offer valuable managerial insights for fostering team resilience.