Managers’ Well-Being in the Digital Era: Is it Associated with Perceived Choice Overload and Pressure from Digitalization? An Exploratory Study

Sabrina Zeike, Kyung-Eun Choi, Lara Lindert and Holger Pfaff
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Sabrina Zeike: Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science (IMVR), Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Eupener Strasse 129, 50933 Cologne, Germany
Kyung-Eun Choi: Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science (IMVR), Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Eupener Strasse 129, 50933 Cologne, Germany
Lara Lindert: Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science (IMVR), Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Eupener Strasse 129, 50933 Cologne, Germany
Holger Pfaff: Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science (IMVR), Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Eupener Strasse 129, 50933 Cologne, Germany

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: Due to the current digital transition, companies are under pressure to pursue digitalization and often initiate far-reaching transformation processes. As a result, managers must drive change within a company and are involved in important decision-making processes. In the present study, we focused on two cognitive job demands in managers related to change due to digital transformation: perceived choice overload and pressure from digitalization. We assumed that the extent of challenging cognitive demands at work is rising and negatively influencing managers’ psychological well-being. We conducted an online survey with a sample of 368 upper-level managers from a large ICT-company, where, at the time of the study, extensive transformation processes were taking place. Using multivariate regression analysis, potential prognostic effects on well-being were tested. Results showed that lower well-being was significantly associated with higher choice overload, but not with perceived pressure from digitalization. In our explorative study, we investigated two potential job demands in managers that, to our knowledge, have not yet been scientifically tested. Given the unsettled state of the field, it is important to try to further understand when choice overload and pressure from digitalization occur and when these may trigger negative health consequences.

Keywords: manager; leadership; digitalization; digital transformation; job demands; choice overload; pressure from digitalization; psychological well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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