25 examples of research with impact: Understanding the evolution of the workplace in the digital era

BACK TO RESEARCH WITH IMPACT: FNR HIGHLIGHTS

“My research interests are centred on the nexus of digital transformation and human resource management practices in the workplace. So far, I investigate how these factors affect employees’ job quality, job satisfaction, motivation, productivity, well-being, and digital skills. ”

Dr Ludivine Martin Research Scientist at the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)

“When doing research, it is important to keep collecting data from a variety of sources, including surveys, experiments, and online sources, with the objective of enabling a comprehensive examination of the changes occurring in the workplace.”

Special attention is paid to the interconnection between digital transformation and human resource management practices. The goal: identifying strategies for employees to adapt to these changes when working in the office or remotely.

With digital transformation comes an increase in research on its effects

Martin explains that when she started her PhD at the University of Rennes, France, in the mid-2000s, there was barely any research on the topic of digital transformation, even less in France and Luxembourg. As digital tools and Artificial Intelligence becomes more present in the workplace, research on the topic has increased as well. The lockdown during the pandemic brought a new topic to analyse: the hybrid work environment.

“As part of the DIGITUP project (CoVid19 Funding Instrument), it is remarkable that our research team was the only one in the world to collect data on the use of digital tools during the pandemic lockdown along with information on employees’ productivity and well-being.”

“While other researchers hypothesise that the use of digital tools may play a role in the well-being and performance of teleworkers, the data we collected in 2020 gives us an opportunity to discover the concrete repercussions. ”

Dr Ludivine Martin Research Scientist at the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)

Challenge to determine impact of research

Martin explains that it is a challenge to determine the extent to which the social sciences research findings of her and her colleagues influence the behaviours of employees or companies, since they cannot patent their research findings.

Still, the team is committed to disseminating information to academics and the general public. This includes topics such as the optimal use of digital tools for employees’ productivity and well-being, both during and after working hours.

“All the research we conduct on Luxembourgish or European data is beneficial for companies and employees alike, as it provides insights that are crucial for success in a digitalised labour market. To illustrate, the research on the digital skills required by employers that we are conducting as part of the FNR BRIDGES LOWSKIM project is, for example, beneficial for employees and job seekers seeking to ascertain which digital skills they should possess. ”

Dr Ludivine Martin Research Scientist at the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)

Research questions continuously evolving

Martin explains that technological and digital evolution has always intrinsically been part of her research field. Together with her colleagues, she is gradually moving on to new subjects that – at least in the beginning – overlap with those they have already analysed.

“For instance, in my medium-term programme, we are developing a set of indicators to analyse labour and skills shortages in European labour markets affected by the digital transformation. We will also examine the impact of the hybrid work environment on skills shortages, employees’ digital skills, performance and well-being.”

There are a multitude of unanswered questions in Martin’ field of research, and many still to arise as the world around us becoming increasingly digital.

“The aim of my colleagues and I is to maintain a position at the cutting edge of our field of research, facilitating the production of results that are both rigorous and insightful. ”

Dr Ludivine Martin Research Scientist at the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)

Ludivine Martin’s FNR-funded projects (main applicant)