Digital transformation as a double-edged sword: exploring the facilitating and overloading paths to employee work passion

Purpose Based on the job demands-resource theory and the dualistic model of passion, this study explores the double-edged sword effect of digital transformation on employee work passion by constructing a dual-path model (i.e., the facilitating path and overloading path) as well as the crucial moderating role of digital transformational leadership. Design/methodology/approach A three-wave design was used to collect quantitative data from 387 leader-subordinate dyads. Testing the hypotheses was conducted through multiple regression analysis and moderated mediation regression analysis. Findings The results indicate that: (1) In the facilitating path, digital transformation positively affects employees' harmonious passion through psychological availability, (2) In the overloading path, digital transformation positively affects employees' obsessive passion by increasing their role overload and (3) Digital transformational leadership plays a moderating role in both paths, which strengthens the effect of facilitating path and alleviates the effect of overloading path. Originality/value This study elucidates the dual-path effects of digital transformation on employee work passion through an overarching theoretical framework, thereby reconciling previous inconsistent research findings. Furthermore, it reveals the differential boundary effects of digital transformational leadership within this dual-path mechanism, enriching both the conceptualization and empirical investigation of this emerging construct in digital era.