Understand Work Alienation, Digital Technology Overload and Job Satisfaction Among Library Professionals in India

M LEELADHARAN; NEETU YADAV

doi:10.14429/djlit.43.05.18516

M LEELADHARAN Assistant Professor, Department of Library & Information Science, Pondicherry University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0132-3683
NEETU YADAV Department of Library and Information Science, Pondicherry University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3019-2950

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.43.05.18516

Keywords: COVID-19, Digital Overload, Digital Complexity, Work alienation, Job satisfaction, Perceived organizational support

Abstract

The present study uses a quantitative method and attempts to explain the rationale for work alienation among library professionals working in India during the COVID-19 period. A total of 151 usable survey questionnaires were collected from library professionals working in Central Universities, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), and other important institutions in India. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19 software. Results revealed that digital technology complexity (β=0.354) and digital technology overload (0.276) were two important independent variables that were positively related to work alienation and significantly explained the phenomenon among library professionals in India. It was also interesting to note that perceived organizational support (-0.122) and job satisfaction (-0.165) among library professionals were negatively related to work alienation among library professionals. This study proved digital overload and digital complexity as two major antecedents of work alienation while, also confirming that job satisfaction is a major antecedent that reduces work alienation. It urges the top management of the library institutions to provide organizational support to the library professionals to ensure lesser or no work alienation happen among them.