Date

4-29-2026

Department

Graduate School of Business

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Chair

Christopher McChesney

Keywords

Employee engagement, digital saturation, digital age, technostress, work–life integration

Disciplines

Business

Abstract

The researcher in this qualitative multiple-case study explored how technology has impacted employee engagement in the modern workplace. The problem being addressed is the continual decline in employee engagement, and the limited understanding of whether technology influences engagement -and if so – how it impacts engagement. A flexible design and qualitative methodology were used to conduct semi-structured interviews with 25 subjects across two non-profit organizations. The researcher transcribed each interview, which was then coded and analyzed. The findings revealed several core themes, including digital saturation, device benefits, device etiquette, device boundaries, and technostress. These themes indicate that technology enables greater productivity and connectivity while simultaneously creating workplace challenges, such as elevated stress, increased anxiety, and blurred lines between home and work. The researcher concluded that employee engagement in the digital age is shaped by technological demands, leading workers to establish individual boundaries and coping mechanisms. The implications for organizational leaders are a necessity to ensure clear communication of organizational expectations around digital communication, to provide support for expanded technology implementation, and to offer training in managing anxiety and stress related to technology demands. Recommendations for future research include examining the long-term impact of technological saturation on employee engagement and exploring the human consequences of being available to everyone all the time.

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