The contribution of task performance and contextual performance to effectiveness: Investigating the role of situational constraints

Task performance and contextual performance are two distinct dimensions of behaviour at work that can contribute independently to effectiveness outcom es for organisations. Contextual performance is important because it repres ents a type of behaviour that is largely under the motivational control of individuals. Little research has addressed how the opportunity to engage in contextual behaviours might be constrained by situational demands. This st udy examined the contribution of task performance and contextual performanc e to effectiveness in the work of air traffic controllers. As predicted, ta sk difficulty moderated the relationship between contextual performance and effectiveness. The results demonstrate that contextual performance does co ntribute to effectiveness in technical domains, such as air traffic control , and highlight the importance of assessing situational factors when assess ing performance and effectiveness.