Solving for Engagement: A Systematic Review of Task Variation and Problem-Solving Demands in Motivating Employees

While previous scholarly work has focused on addressing the relationship between task variation and employee motivation, the functional relations between problem-solving demands at work and employee engagement remain underexplored. This systematic review examines how task variation and problem-solving opportunities influence employee engagement, motivation, and performance. Adhering to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we performed structured searches in Academic Research Ultimate, Business Source Elite, PsycINFO, CINAHL, ERIC, Web of Science, and Scopus databases limited to peer-reviewed results in English published after 2009. Thirteen studies met our search criteria, although they employed diverse methodologies to explore how purposeful task variation and problem-solving affect observable work behavior. Key findings include (a) positive feedback enhances engagement in promotive tasks, while negative feedback may boost motivation in preventive tasks; (b) moderate boredom fosters adaptive problem solving, but excessive monotony reduces engagement; (c) active refocusing across task domains supports sustained performance; (d) perceived variation in pace, task type, and location facilitates recovery and engagement; and (e) flexible work arrangements improve information processing but may reduce support access. Our results highlight the importance of designing work processes that balance task variation and structured problem-solving, supported by tailored feedback and restorative conditions. Future research should quantify these effects across diverse organizational contexts.