The bright and dark sides of digital technology embedded in jobs: A daily investigation from hotel industry

Abstract

Drawing on affective event theory (AET), this study explores the dual-edged impact of digital technology embedded in jobs (DTEJ) on employee job performance through on information accessibility satisfaction (IAS) and dehumanization. Using data collected over 10 consecutive workdays from 71 employees at a hotel in Zhejiang Province, China, we find that DTEJ positively influences job performance via IAS, while concurrently contributing to digital-induced dehumanization, which negatively affects job performance. Furthermore, the study found that emotional malleability negatively moderates the relationship between DTEJ and dehumanization. Unexpectedly, we also found that emotional malleability also negatively moderates the relationship between DTEJ and IAS. These findings highlight the complex role of digital technology in the workplace, suggesting that although it can enhance information accessibility and performance, it may simultaneously provoke dehumanization. Theoretical contributions to DTEJ literature, and practical implications for hotel management-along with the study's limitations-are also discussed.