An assessment of trends in technology use, innovative work practices and employees’ attitudes in Europe

Abstract

Several studies of innovative work practices show a positive link with firm performance and employees’ task involvement, organizational commitment and citizenship behaviours. One of the recent changes faced by firms is the introduction of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Although several empirical studies analyse the links between ICT use, innovative work practices and firm performance, employee-level analyses are scarce. Using data from the European Working Condition Survey (EWCS), this article investigates the relationships between use of the Internet and computers and positive attitudes among employees (social support, job satisfaction, extra effort) in the European context. Our empirical results are based on data for more than 9500 employees from 16 European countries in 2005, and more than 14 000 in 2010. Among the different effects of ICT use, based on the results for the 2005, 2010 and the pooled 2005–2010 sample, and in a within-cohorts change analysis, we find that Internet use is positively related to employees’ job satisfaction and extra effort. We find that computer use is not related to employees’ behaviours. We find also that most of the innovative work practices considered are positively related to employees’ positive attitudes.

Keywords:

• employees’ attitudes
• information and communication technologies
• innovative work practices

JEL Classification:

• J81
• M12
• M54
• L23

Notes

¹ European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, European Working Conditions Survey, 2005 and 2010 [computer files]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive [distributor], May 2007 and February 2012. SN: 5639 and 6971. http://dx.doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-5639-1, http://dx.doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-6971-1

² This item was slightly modified between 2005 and 2010.