Job demands and resources when using technologies at work – development of a digital work typology

Abstract

Purpose

Digital technologies comprehensively change work processes and working conditions. However, the use of digital technologies and the modes of collaboration between technologies and human workers differ in terms of specific work organization and automatization. Referring to the job demands-resources model (JD-R), this paper investigates job demands and resources from the workers' perspectives and develops a digital work typology according to dimensions of digitalization and forms of human–computer interaction (HCI).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a qualitative-empirical study with 49 interviews in four German production and logistics organizations, emphasizing different job demands and job resources for five digital work types identified.

Findings

The results indicate that job demands and resources are to be differentiated in relation to specific work contexts. In this sense, this paper presents an analysis of dimensions of technology use and the impact of technology use on working conditions through empirically analyzing job demands and resources in digital work settings.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper is to empirically analyze job demands and resources in digital work settings from the workers' perspectives and to develop a digital work typology based on the dimensions of digitalization and form of HCI. This typology can set the basis for further research insights as well as management practice measures in human resources management (HRM).

Citation

Ruiner, C., Debbing, C.E., Hagemann, V., Schaper, M., Klumpp, M. and Hesenius, M. (2023), "Job demands and resources when using technologies at work – development of a digital work typology", Employee Relations, Vol. 45 No. 1, pp. 190-208. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-11-2021-0468