An examination of the dynamics of intergenerational tensions and technological change in the context of post-pandemic recovery

Abstract

Technological change is a feature of contemporary life encompassing interactivity, collaboration and, above all, real-time content sharing and live streaming. The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new dynamics in relation to digitisation and technology usage. Within organisations, these changes have been swift and profound, leading to online meetings, events and virtual team management. An explosion of literature has accompanied these changes and their human impacts. However, the generational and intergenerational issues remain under-examined and therefore constitute an important gap. The paper examines the literature on workplace technology, digitalisation and human impacts in relation to the COVID-19, and particularly, through the lens of different generational adoptive patterns. Taking an inductive qualitative approach, the paper’s empirical focus is analyses of semi-structured questionnaire data from intergenerational senior executives. The findings showcase alternative understandings of technology in the late-COVID-19 era and of Xer generational (i.e. born 1961–1981) resilience and operational change dynamics. This allows a number of contributions and implications to be developed.