Are all digital hoarding behavior alike? Uncovering the pathways to digital hoarding behavior in the workplace

Background Individuals’ excessive preservation and accumulation of digital information may result in digital hoarding behavior. In the workplace, employees may engage in such behavior due to concerns about losing potentially useful information and its possible impact on task performance within the information ecology. Method Drawing on information ecology theory, this study develops a configurational model to examine the antecedents of digital hoarding behavior in the workplace. Using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), we empirically analyze survey data from 268 employees in China. Conclusion The results reveal the complex and interdependent effects of the antecedent conditions on digital hoarding behavior, identifying three configurations that drive a high level of digital hoarding behavior in the workplace. Perceived ease of use emerges as a key condition that facilitates employees’ digital hoarding behavior. In contrast, a low level of digital hoarding behavior follows two distinct configurations, in which the absence of perceived usefulness and deficiency in AI adoption play important inhibitory roles. Discussion This study extends the research perspective of digital hoarding behavior in the workplace and provides important practical guidance for managers seeking to improve digital information management and employee work efficiency.