Relationship between job challenge and job performance in the Korean Army: The mediating effect of learning agility and the moderating effect of job autonomy

This study aims to identify the relationship among job challenge, learning agility, job autonomy, and job performance based on job demand-resources model. In particular, this study examined the mediating role of learning agility in the relationship between Job challenge and job performance, which has rarely been conducted. Furthermore, the moderating effect of job autonomy as job resource was explored. The data collected were from army officers and noncommissioned officers (NCO) of the Korean Army (N = 425). We hypothesized that there is a positive relationship among Job challenge and learning agility, Job challenge and job performance, the mediating role of learning agility in the relationship between Job challenge and job performance, and the moderating role of job autonomy. As predicted, we found that Job challenge was positively related to learning agility and job performance. We also found a mediating effect of learning agility on the relationship between Job challenge and job performance. Furthermore, job autonomy moderated the positive relationship between Job challenge and learning agility, although the moderating effect of job autonomy between Job challenge and job performance was not significant. Finally, the indirect relationship between Job challenge and job performance, via learning agility, was stronger for the higher job autonomy group than for the lower job autonomy group. The, theoretical and practical contributions and suggestions for future studies on learning agility and job characteristics are discussed.