THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION SELF-EFFICACY IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COGNITIVE OFFLOADING AND EMPLOYEE VOICE BEHAVIOR
Keywords:
cognitive offloading, communication self-efficacy, employee voice, organizational communication, speaking up.Abstract
Cognitive offloading can support the preparation of work-related information, but access to external assistance does not necessarily lead employees to express their ideas or concerns. This conceptual article examines communication self-efficacy as a proposed moderator of the relationship between cognitive offloading and employee voice behavior. A narrative literature review integrates research on external cognitive support, self-efficacy, organizational voice, and leadership conditions. The synthesis distinguishes assistance with information preparation from confidence in communicating and the subsequent act of speaking up. It proposes that task-relevant offloading may support voice when employees retain understanding and believe they can formulate, explain, and defend their viewpoints. However, offloading may produce limited benefits when information is accepted without verification or when organizational conditions discourage participation. Communication self-efficacy is therefore positioned as a possible boundary condition rather than an established mediator. The article develops propositions and discusses implications for employee development, technology use, and managerial responses. It concludes that cognitive support, personal capability beliefs, and opportunities to speak should be examined as distinct components. The proposed relationships require empirical testing and do not establish causal effects.
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Copyright (c) 2019 Farida Hanum Siregar
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