Generational perceptions of ICT in the workplace

a study at Udesc, Campus I

Abstract

In a scenario marked by multigenerational coexistence, where each generation presents distinct backgrounds and values, information and communication technologies emerge as a challenge in terms of both use and accessibility, within and beyond the university environment. The objective of this work was to analyze how workers from different generations perceive ICT in the workplace context. To this end, a qualitative approach was employed, combining a literature review, semi-structured interviews with thirteen participants from the Baby Boomer, X, Y, and Z generations, manual data coding, and thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke (2006). The results indicate consensus regarding the centrality of technologies in institutional performance, even though each generation reveals specific perceptions. Baby Boomers demonstrated proactive attitudes, contradicting stereotypes of technological resistance. Generation X highlighted ethical dilemmas linked to work intensification. Generation Y exhibited digital fluency but emphasized institutional barriers to innovation. Generation Z, in turn, revealed insecurities related to ICT, particularly concerning distractions and the growing role of artificial intelligence. Additional issues also emerged, including work overload, the lack of policies regulating the use of applications outside working hours, and accessibility challenges faced by visually impaired workers. It was also observed that, while many perceptions align with the literature, deviations arise, influenced by specific contexts such as the university environment and individual trajectories. The findings contribute to advancing the debate on digital inclusion and intergenerational management of ICT in the workplace and academic settings.