The impact of technological innovations on the quality of work and wellbeing: a systematic literature review

Technological innovations in the workplace are happening in a rapid pace and consequently employees increasingly have to deal with substantial changes in the way they carry out their work. To secure a stimulating and healthy work environment it is of importance to gain more insight in influence of new technologies on employees. Specifically, the goal of this study is to identify the effect of the implementation of technological innovations on the quality of work and employee well-being. A systematic literature review of articles published within the last 15 years was conducted. Articles were screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, which resulted in 14 articles for further critical assessment. Findings could be categorized based on job, organizational, and individual characteristics, which in turn predicted work experiences and employee wellbeing. The results showed that job demands increased after the implementation of a new technology. However, the impact on job resources and the relationship between these job characteristics and work outcomes was less clear. The findings also indicate that training and self-efficacy play an important role in creating a motivating work environment. The integration of both job demands and job resources may offer a solution in explaining the mixed findings.