Applying the job demand-resource theoretical framework to better understand the stress inducing and reducing aspects of IT in jobs

Abstract

While past literature in information systems (IS) has noted the stress inducing effect of information technology (IT) on employee well-being, little research has focused on the stress reducing potential of IT. This paper is the first in IS to makes use of the Job Demand-Resource theoretical framework to examine the concurrent stress inducing and stress reducing impact of IT on employee's work exhaustion, job satisfaction and turnover intention. In particular, we hypothesize that stress induced due to having to learn IT and being monitored by IT can cause work exhaustion while informational, communicational and usability support available by IT can cause job satisfaction. We further hypothesize that IT's stress reducing potential moderates the effect of general job demands on work exhaustion. The research can help managers identify the source of employee turnover and the appropriate interventions needed to reduce turnover when IT is introduced into a job.