MOTIVATION OF CONTROLLERS OF DIFFERENT AGES AND VARYING YEARS OF JOB TENURE TO LEARN DIGITAL SKILLS

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between a controller’s age and job tenure and formal and informal learning motivation to acquire digital skills. I argue that both a controller’s age and job tenure are negatively related to both formal and informal learning motivation to acquire digital skills. Using survey data from 53 controllers in the Netherlands, I demonstrate a negative relationship between a controller’s age and informal learning motivation. This result supports Carstensen’s (2006) socioemotional selectivity theory and Kanfer and Ackerman's (2004) expectancy theory. For the remaining relationships, I do not find a significant effect. Overall, the findings support current literature that indicates the role of the controller to be changing due to the development of digitalisation. This paper contributes to this literature by showing the reasons why controllers have (no) motivation to learn digital skills. Based on these results, organizations can better respond to the emergence of digitalization and motivate their employees to learn digital skills. Keywords: controllers; digitalization; formal learning motivation; informal learning motivation