Key drivers of knowledge worker engagement in the information and communications technology environment

Abstract

The performance of a business has been showed to be related to the engagement levels of the employees who work in it. Understanding what levers can be used to influence the engagement levels of employees was the objective of this study. Considering that the information and communications technology (ICT) sector is the base from which the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) will build from, these employees will be vital to taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the 4IR. The study looked specifically at employees who are knowledge workers and are employed in the information and communications technology sector in South Africa. The theory base of the study is informed by behavioural and jobs demandsresources theory, using both to understand employee engagement and the key drivers thereof. The study took a qualitative, inductive and exploratory approach to understand what the key drivers of employee engagement were for the employees in the ICT sector. The data collection consisted of 13 face-to-face interviews, which were then analysed to come to an understanding on the topic. The key findings revealed that the leadership style of management and the team culture are the biggest drivers of employee engagement in the ICT sector.