Role of mobile application attributes in building job meaningfulness among food delivery employees

In the era of COVID-19 and beyond, with increasing demand for food delivery services, the food delivery industry has experienced tremendous growth in countries worldwide. Despite the proliferation of mobile technologies in the workplace, little is known about the contextual factors that contribute to its impact on employees' behavior. Thus, this study aims to understand the psychological mechanisms that explain the relationship between mobile application-related attributes and job-related outcomes for employees. Drawing on self-determination theory, the authors examine whether needs satisfaction in employees regarding company mobile applications acts as a determinant of motivation in employees, which can influence job meaningfulness. Participants were 208 food service delivery employees in the United Sates. Results of partial least squares-structural equation analysis show 1) the relative impact of needs satisfaction (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) on employees' intrinsic and extrinsic motivations and 2) the spill-over effect of employees' motivation on their job meaningfulness. These results indicate that autonomy, competence, and connected attributes of mobile applications can benefit employees. Thus, this study provides a basis for a deeper understanding of how food service companies can design mobile applications to increase employees’ motivation.