Old Dogs and New Tricks – Exploring the Benefits and Drawbacks of IT Consumerization in the Context of Aging Workforces

Becker J, Ortbach K, Köffer S, Dageförde J, Niehaves B

Abstract

The average age of the working population is continuously increasing in many developed countries. At the same time, more and more consumer IT (e.g. smartphones or tablets) is entering the organizations, promising more flexible working conditions and higher performance of employees. While there have been several studies on the attitudes of older workers towards IT use, IS research has not yet explored the benefits and drawbacks of IT consumerization in the context of aging workforces. In order to close this research gap, we conduct two explorative case studies in the public sector and derive a framework explaining the relationships between the two trends. In addition, we use the case data to develop design principles that can govern the introduction of consumer IT in aging organizations.

Projects the publication originates from