Abstract
The world of work has entered the 4th Industrial Revolution. This revolution is introducing new technologies to the workplace, which is leading to digitisation, digitalisation, augmented reality as well as changes in job content, job types and more disturbingly job loss. The employee composition changed at the same time, with large portions of the baby boomers exciting, Gen X moving into managerial and leader roles and the majority of employees being GenY. Organisations need a satisfied workforce, that is engaged and experience psychological meaningfulness, as it is only when this is true that both the organisation and its people flourish, and that sustainability and productivity can be obtained. It is however not clear to what extent technology, and in this instance mobile technology will impact on employee engagement and the psychological wellbeing and experience of meaning within the workplace. Nor is it clear if different generations experience the introduction of mobile technology on a large scale differently. This research aimed to determine the relationship between the adoption of technology, employee engagement and psychological meaningfulness. With both Gen X and Y being exposed to mobile technology in their personal lives, the impact of it in the workplace is less than was expected. The results indicate that adoption to technology has no significant effect on work engagement or psychological meaningfulness. Furthermore, it was found that no significant differences existed between the two groups (Gen X and GenY) in terms of employee engagement and psychological meaningfulness. Finally, a statistically significant difference between the two groups were found in terms of adoption of mobile technology as Gen Y’s are more likely to adopt new forms of technology to increase their work productivity and improve their skills.
M.Com. (Industrial Psychology)