Linking New Ways of Working to Employee Performance in Emerging Countries: The Interplay of Technostress, and Meaningful Work

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reshaped the landscape of work, prompting an urgent inquiry into the new ways of working among scholars and industry practitioners. Amidst this global transformation, Vietnam stands out as a developing nation embracing remote and hybrid working models, yet there is a notable gap in empirical research. This study aims to provide valuable insights into the intricate interplay between new ways of working (NWOW), meaningful work (MW), technostress (TNS), and perceived job performance (JP) in the context of an emerging economy. The study adopted a cross-sectional quantitative approach, utilizing a questionnaire administered through online platforms to a diverse group of professional participants in Vietnam. Convenience sampling was used to gather data. Upon completion of data collection, a total of 309 valid observations were obtained, ensuring an extensive representation of the research phenomenon within its distinct sociocultural context. The analysis was conducted using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), a method well-suited for robust testing of hypotheses. This study shows a positive correlation between NWOW and both TNS and JP. However, the negative relationship between TNS and JP was not statistically supported. On the other hand, the study confirmed a strong positive relationship between NWOW and perceived MW, which also significantly impacted JP. The study provides actionable insights for organizations planning to implement or enhance NWOW, stressing the importance of understanding its complex impacts on MW and TNS. This study significantly contributes to the literature by exploring the intricate relationships among NWOW, TNS, MW, and JP in an emerging economic context, providing a nuanced understanding of these dynamics.