Digital (dis)connectivity of professionals” Practices that professionals use to connect to and disconnect from work-related digital technologies.
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2023-08-29
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en
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Abstract
Digital disconnectivity is a concept that became more and more popular in the past years. The
technoculture we live in, makes it possible to be online connected at all times. Due to the fact
that there is constant access to digital technologies, people seek for digital disconnection to
be more connected to the ‘real’ world.
There are several studies of the motives why individuals digitally disconnect and how
they do this. However, it remains unclear how professionals disconnect from work-related
digital technologies after working hours, in order to reduce work-life conflict. This thesis is
using the practice theory enabling lens of the consumer culture theory in order to map the
practices of digitally (dis)connecting practised by professionals.
The data to answer the research question, “What practices do professionals use to
digitally connect to work and digitally disconnect from work?”, is gathered from interviews
and netnography. The results show that the practices can be divided into (dis)connection
meanings, materials and doings and that the connection practices are interrelated with the
disconnection practices, in order to disconnect from work-related digital technologies and
reduce work-life conflict.
The study offers a framework for understanding the practices that professionals use to
connect to and disconnect from work-related digital technologies. Furthermore, the study
gives managerial implications to support disconnectivity of professionals after working
hours.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen