Abstract
AbstractThe Internet and mobilization of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have made non‐manual work increasingly portable and remotely accessible. As a result, a considerable number of employees use their ICTs to engage in work‐related tasks during designated non‐work time, even without contractual obligation. However, existing research on such voluntary work‐related ICT use remains fragmented and spread across disciplines. The authors conducted a narrative review of 56 studies to identify themes in existing research, synthesize the evidence base and identify gaps in understanding. They identify five themes: (1) Social‐normative organizational context, (2) Job‐related characteristics and work processes, (3) Person characteristics, (4) Designated non‐work time and well‐being, and (5) Empowerment/Enslavement Paradox. A conceptual model of voluntary ICT use is developed by integrating the identified themes with existing organizational research, outlining the relationships between the identified themes and voluntary ICT use. The discussion emphasizes the need for more conceptual clarity on voluntary ICT use and related constructs, and for the integration of different disciplines and methodological approaches to advance knowledge in the field. The authors further identify person‐centred research as a critical future avenue to explore different ICT user types. Additionally, more research into the mechanisms and moderating influences regarding voluntary ICT use and its outcomes is considered advisable to advance knowledge on the Empowerment/Enslavement Paradox and its potential resolution. The paper concludes with preliminary implications to inform practice, addressing the need for employers to provide control over voluntary ICT use and employees enacting this control.
Highlights
The convenience and reach of information and communication technologies (ICTs), including laptops, smartphones and tablets, have fundamentallyThe authors wish to thank the members of the advisory panel for their invaluable comments on the search protocol
In addition to the question of why employees engage in voluntary ICT use, we have identified a substantial body of literature examining the outcomes of this behaviour
To expand understanding of the conditions under which voluntary ICT use is beneficial rather than detrimental, we propose that research into such moderators and mediators should be expanded, as has been requested in the broader research field of flexible work arrangements
Summary
The authors wish to thank the members of the advisory panel for their invaluable comments on the search protocol. The authors would like to thank Jenny Lynden for her helpful and insightful comments on a previous draft of this manuscript. Parts of this research were presented at the Division of Occupational Psychology Annual Conference 2015, 7–9 January, changed. The development of mobile computers paired with ever-growing Internet coverage, accelerating data transmission and virtual access, means that users are no longer restricted to static computers. Many work roles have become virtually boundaryless, as employees can work anywhere and. 2015, Glasgow, United Kingdom, and at the 17th Congress of the European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology, 20–23 May, 2015, Oslo, Norway.
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