The use of computers among the workers in the European Union and its impact on the quality of work

Abstract

For many people it is impossible to imagine working life today without a computer. What the increase of the use of computers means for the quality of the work, is still under discussion. The object of this study is to show the recent developments (1992 ± 2000) in the use of computers among the working population in the European Union and its impact on the quality of working life. The data used for these analyses were collected on a ®ve-year basis by means of a questionnaire. Results show that the use of computers has increased between 1992 and 2000. The increase in computer use is almost completely the result of developments within white-collar occupations. In general, the use of a computer results in more quali®ed work and less physical strain. However, those who work with a computer permanently, clearly show more signs of physical and mental strain than those who use the computer only part of the time. This could mean that adding other tasks than computer tasks could improve the working conditions of those using the computer permanently. These results suggest that the increase of the use of computers will further improve the quality of work except when one neglects the dangers connected with a permanent use of computers.

Computers and types of control in relation to work stress and learning

“…Andries, Smulders, and Dhondt 2002;Orlikowski and Scott 2008). On the one hand, the features of computer work and underlying choices in the work organisation remain a 'black box' in many studies on relations of computer work and employee outcomes (cf.…”

Do work-related physical factors predict neck and upper limb symptoms in office workers?

“…Until recently, high-quality studies concerning office workers have been scarce. Since office work is dominated by increasing computer work (Andries et al 2002) and possibly harmful effects of computer work receive a lot of attention, several longitudinal studies were carried out concerning office workers (Marcus et al 2002;Jensen 2003;Korhonen et al 2003;Juul-Kristensen et al 2004;Lassen et al 2004;Brandt et al 2004). These studies examined the hours per week of work time with the computer, often divided into keyboard and mouse use and/or examined working postures of office workers.…”

Do individual characteristics matter? The quality of work during the implementation of a workflow management system in a Dutch social insurance company

“…This may be related to the fact that complex, computerised and autonomous work, as well as high work pressure, is mainly found in modern organisations. Thus far, research has been conducted on either the relationship between work and the use of and satisfaction with IS/IT (cf., Andries et al, 2002;Bijleveld et al, 2000;Carayon, 1997;Kamhawi and Gunasekaran, 2009;Kanji and Chopra, 2009;Keramati and Behmanesh, 2010;Lucas and Spitler, 1999;Medcof, 1996;Newton and Jimmieson, 2009;Orlikowski and Baroudi, 1991;Ramayah et al, 2007;Steijn, 2001), or the relationship between individual characteristics and the use of and satisfaction with IS/IT (cf., Agarwal and Prasad, 1999;Gefen and Straub, 1997;Venkatesh et al, 2003;Ward et al, 2005;Webster and Martocchio, 1992). In this study, we will take these streams of research as a starting point from which to investigate the relationship between user satisfaction and quality of work, and the stability of this relationship according to individual characteristics (i.e., gender, age, education, etc.).…”