Guiding Companies to Reduce Technostress: A Mixed-Methods Study Deriving Practice-Oriented Recommendations

Abstract

Technostress is a major challenge for employees using information technology. Technostress research has revealed the causes, i.e. techno-stressors, and resulting adverse consequences for employees and companies. However, there is a lack of practical insights guiding companies on how to reduce technostress. To offer such practical insights, we follow a mixed-methods approach. The qualitative study bases on eleven expert interviews and reveals seven measures that reduce technostress. We then elaborate on these interview results with a quantitative study of 110 employees. The quantitative results reveal the degree to which the seven measures are useful to reduce specific techno-stressors. Our results show that although there are measures used in practice, none reduces all different techno-stressors. We complement existent theoretical technostress research by offering practice-oriented recommendations on how to reduce technostress. Based on the illustration of which measures are useful for which techno-stressors, practitioners can choose the measures that best fits their needs.

Mitigating teleworkers' perceived technological complexity and work strains through supportive team communication

“…Results indicate that social support from team members, as well as the extent of telework, reduce stress from technological complexity; however, stress from technological complexity still increased teleworkers' work and Results show the positive effect of internal communication between coworkers-specified as informational and emotional support (House et al, 1985)-on teleworkers' stress from perceived technological complexity. First, receiving support through information from colleagues reduces technologically induced stress, namely techno-complexity (Valta et al, 2021;Weinert et al, 2020). Second, emotional support from coworkers also reduces teleworkers' perceived techno-complexity (Califf and Brooks, 2020;Valta et al, 2021).…”

“…First, receiving support through information from colleagues reduces technologically induced stress, namely techno-complexity (Valta et al, 2021;Weinert et al, 2020). Second, emotional support from coworkers also reduces teleworkers' perceived techno-complexity (Califf and Brooks, 2020;Valta et al, 2021). Third, emotional support from team members is more effective in mitigating techno-complexity than informational support.…”

“…, 1985)—on teleworkers' stress from perceived technological complexity. First, receiving support through information from colleagues reduces technologically induced stress, namely techno-complexity (Valta et al. , 2021; Weinert et al.…”

“…, 2020). Second, emotional support from coworkers also reduces teleworkers' perceived techno-complexity (Califf and Brooks, 2020; Valta et al. , 2021).…”

“…An experimental study by Weinert et al (2020) demonstrated that social support in the form of provided technical information reduced physiological stress reactions caused by a computer freeze. A study following a mixed-method approach using qualitative and quantitative data revealed a decrease in perceived techno-complexity when mutual support within workgroups and a central contact person for first-level ICT support were available (Valta et al, 2021). Further, literacy facilitation was found to reduce the perceived technocomplexity of teachers (Califf and Brooks, 2020).…”