The Dual Edge of Digitalization: A Psychological Analysis of Motivation, Productivity, and Wellbeing using the Job Demands-Resources Model
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/ijmds.v15n10.001Keywords:
Job Demands-Resources Model, Technostress, Digital Job Demands, Digital Job ResourcesAbstract
The rapid and ubiquitous integration of Digital Information and Communication Technologies (DICT) into the modern workplace has fundamentally restructured organizational behavior, yielding unprecedented operational efficiencies while simultaneously introducing severe, novel psychological hazards. This exhaustive research paper critically analyzes the dual edge of digitalization through the theoretical lens of the extended Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model. By conceptualizing technological factors as either digital job demands or digital job resources, this analysis elucidates the complex, multi-directional pathways through which digitalization influences employee work engagement, motivation, productivity, and psychological wellbeing. Particular attention is devoted to technostress, the pervasive reach of algorithmic management (AM), and the recent, disruptive proliferation of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in knowledge work. The comprehensive synthesis of empirical literature, heavily supported by Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) data, reveals that while digital resources (e.g., temporal flexibility, algorithmic guidance, digital leadership) can trigger a motivational process leading to high engagement and thriving, digital demands (e.g., techno-overload, continuous availability, intense electronic monitoring, and verification fatigue) trigger a health impairment process characterized by cognitive depletion and burnout. Furthermore, this paper explores critical buffering mechanisms, notably Psychological Capital (PsyCap) and proactive digital job crafting, which empower employees to navigate the digital ecosystem autonomously. Ultimately, the paper provides evidence-based recommendations for organizations to mitigate digital strain by implementing "Right to Disconnect" policies, deploying human-centric AI, and establishing transparent algorithmic governance frameworks.
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