Yes, we can! A fuzzy-set analysis of challenges, skills, and enjoyment of work

Happy employees are a major source of competitive advantage. This research examines antecedents of employees' well-being with an emphasis on balance of challenges and skills. Using data from a survey of 185 employees in academia, this research tests whether a balance of challenges and skills at high levels of underlying components is necessary and/or sufficient for work enjoyment. The results of a fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis indicate an asymmetrical causal relationship between balance of challenges and skills at high levels and work enjoyment. In addition, post hoc analyses reveal complex configurations of job demands and resources that lead to work enjoyment. From a methodological perspective, this research contributes to qualitative comparative analysis literature by outlining an approach to visualize contrarian cases in large-N samples, using a binned scatterplot.