An investigation into the key determinants of work-life balance at managerial level in the information technology industry : a case study

Abstract

Changes at the workplace, in family structure, lifestyle and technological advancements have given a new dimension to the concept of work-life balance. In knowledge intensive industries such as I.T. organizations, human capital is the organizations' main asset, giving them a sustainable competitive advantage. Since work-life balance is becoming more and more important for today's employees, organizations operating in this industry must tackle the core issues of work-life balance in order to be able to attract and retain the best employees. Literature shows that there is little research which focuses on this issue at managerial level in the I.T. industry. This dissertation offers a deeper insight to this core issue to one of Malta's fastest growing industries - the I.T. industry. Every individual manager, has different priorities in life and despite operating within the same organization, each manager behaves differently and strives to achieve one's ideal work-life balance in one's own way. Thus, there are underlying factors which determine one's work-life balance. This research sought to investigate and deeply explore these key determinants with a view to better understand it as such. As the research progressed, it became evident that adopting a case-based methodology was most appropriate in seeking rich meanings and better understanding of the complex phenomena and dynamics at play. One-to-one interviews were conducted with all the managers participating in this study, where managers were asked about their opinion of the key determinants of work-life balance. The organization's point of view on the subject was also taken into consideration. The key determinants of work-life balance that emerged from this study were, in decreasing order of relevance: personality, managerial role, workload, organizational commitment, career / personal development and other life commitments. Another interesting finding is that managers attribute the responsibility of work-life balance to themselves, although they admit that the organization they work for has an impact. Based on the findings that emerged from this study, new work-life balance initiatives were proposed in an attempt to aid I.T. managers achieve their work-life balance and help the I.T. organizations attract and retain their main asset.