Reviewing the Literature on Job Crafting Theory Through the Lens of Research Instruments

Job crafting is a proactive work design technique linked to innovative work behavior. Job crafting has multiple conceptualizations, making it challenging to review the literature based on the original framework. This article addresses this issue by examining job crafting instruments based on the foundational conceptualization, i.e., Job Crafting Theory (JCT). We reviewed 444 articles using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol from four different databases: Scopus, Web of Science, Lens, and Dimensions, published between 2001 and 2024. The articles based on JCT were extracted, systematically reviewed, and categorized into conceptual, empirical, and review-based studies. Empirical papers based on JCT were analyzed to identify eleven job crafting instruments. These instruments were evaluated based on their multidimensionality, application context, country of origin, validity, reliability, and predictive utility. The list of articles that have utilized these instruments has also been presented. This review identifies the tools that best represent the original JCT and offers a unique perspective to gauge JCT’s development through its instruments, helping researchers select the appropriate instrument for further studies.