Public PhD Defense of Burcu Taşkan
- CIS-Iscte
- Apr 12
- 2 min read
Burcu Taşkan, a PhD candidate in the Doctoral Program in Psychology, will defend the thesis titled "Challenges to Cope with Uncertainty in Work Settings". The public defense is scheduled for April 30, 2025, 10:00 at Sala de Provas, B327 (Building 4) of Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon. And online: https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/7441410132
Changes on room and Zoom link may be updated at Iscte's website.
Abstract:
In today's rapidly changing organizational environment, uncertainty plays a central role in shaping employee performance and overall health. This thesis includes four empirical studies that deepen our understanding of organizational behavior in uncertain work environments. Study 1 conducted a systematic review to refine understanding of the VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) framework by defining its components and exploring their interrelationships. Through an analysis of literature published between 1999 and 2021, the study identified overlapping definitions and developed a conceptual map for future research and practical applications. Study 2 examined the impact of telework on adaptive performance through a cross-sectional survey of 209 teleworkers, investigating the mediating role of negative affect and the moderating role of leadership effectiveness. The findings revealed that teleworking influenced adaptive performance through negative affect, with leadership effectiveness as a critical moderator. Study 3 explored the relationship between daily uncertainty and adaptive performance using a multilevel diary study with 159 office workers over ten working days. This study identified negative affect as a mediator and mindfulness as a moderator, showing the daily uncertainty’s impact on adaptive performance was stronger for individuals with lower mindfulness levels. Study 4 investigated the effects of daily micro-events on employees’ overall health with 243 employees over five consecutive days. Integrating Affective Events Theory and the Integrative Model of Uncertainty Tolerance, the study demonstrated that daily micro-events influence overall health through daily uncertainty and affect. Collectively, these studies offer valuable insights into enhancing employee performance and wellbeing in dynamic work environments.
Members of the jury:
Jorge Gomes (Universidade de Lisboa)
Pedro Marques Quinteiro (Universidade Lusófona)
Christin-Melanie Vauclair (Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa)
António Caetano (Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa)
