Paper Type
Complete
Paper Number
PACIS2025-1842
Description
Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations were striving to enhance their digitalization. The 2020-21 lockdown expedited this process, making remote collaboration familiar. As virtual work transitions from a necessity to an option, many organizations maintain virtual operations or adopt hybrid models. This paper employs a sociotechnical perspective to examine the intricacies of post-pandemic work collaboration and its impact on employee productivity and well-being. Interviews with 38 knowledge workers across ten organizations reveal an imbalance caused by the excessive digitalization of inherently human processes. Despite numerous digital tools, a strong desire remains for genuine social interaction. This has led to a hybrid work environment where employees must actively manage communication and work-life balance. Our model contributes to the study of digital transformation in the workplace and offers a cautionary note to practitioners about the potential downsides of over-digitalization.
Recommended Citation
Walenta, Danilo Constantin and Koppe, Timo, "Exploring Sociotechnical Alignment and Productivity—Post-Pandemic Insights" (2025). PACIS 2025 Proceedings. 5.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/pacis2025/is_adoption/is_adoption/5
Exploring Sociotechnical Alignment and Productivity—Post-Pandemic Insights
Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations were striving to enhance their digitalization. The 2020-21 lockdown expedited this process, making remote collaboration familiar. As virtual work transitions from a necessity to an option, many organizations maintain virtual operations or adopt hybrid models. This paper employs a sociotechnical perspective to examine the intricacies of post-pandemic work collaboration and its impact on employee productivity and well-being. Interviews with 38 knowledge workers across ten organizations reveal an imbalance caused by the excessive digitalization of inherently human processes. Despite numerous digital tools, a strong desire remains for genuine social interaction. This has led to a hybrid work environment where employees must actively manage communication and work-life balance. Our model contributes to the study of digital transformation in the workplace and offers a cautionary note to practitioners about the potential downsides of over-digitalization.
Comments
Innovation