Short answer

Integrate user research and co-design methodologies when developing digital workplace solutions to ensure they are both effective for health and well-being, and aligned with the evolving nature of work.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: Scandinavian Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology (2023)
Method: Narrative and visual synthesis, followed by conceptual discussion and impulse generation.
Evidence: Strong effect

Designing digital occupational health interventions (DOHI) and actively shaping the digital transformation of work through co-creation leads to healthier and more human-centered work environments. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Scandinavian Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology. Using Narrative and visual synthesis, followed by conceptual discussion and impulse generation., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Integrate user research and co-design methodologies when developing digital workplace solutions to ensure they are both effective for health and well-being, and aligned with the evolving nature of work.

Study

User-Centred DesignRecentStrong effect

Digital Interventions Enhance Workplace Well-being Through Co-Creation

Designing digital occupational health interventions (DOHI) and actively shaping the digital transformation of work through co-creation leads to healthier and more human-centered work environments.

Scandinavian Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology · 2023

Key Findings

01Digital occupational health interventions (DOHI) offer a powerful means to improve employee well-being in the digital age.
02Co-creating the future of work, by involving organizations, employees, and health experts, is essential for a human-centered digital transformation.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing any new digital tool for the workplace, consider its potential impact on user well-being and involve a diverse group of users and subject matter experts in the design and testing phases.

Project actions

01Consider how digital tools can be used to support user well-being in your design project.
02Explore co-design methods to involve potential users in the development process.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can digital occupational health interventions and co-creative design processes be leveraged to foster a human-centered future of work?

MethodNarrative and visual synthesis, followed by conceptual discussion and impulse generation.

ProcedureThe paper synthesizes existing techniques and topics in digital occupational health interventions (DOHI) with illustrative examples. It then discusses the limitations and opportunities of DOHI and proposes a framework for co-creating the future of work by integrating occupational health expertise with human-centered design principles.

ContextOccupational health and the digital transformation of work.

Variables

IV["Development and application of Digital Occupational Health Interventions (DOHI)","Co-creation processes involving organizations, members, and experts"]

DV["Employee health and well-being","Human-centeredness of the future of work"]

CV["Specific digital technologies used","Organizational culture and readiness for change","Nature of the work tasks being transformed"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Addresses a timely and critical issue at the intersection of technology, work, and health.
+Proposes a forward-looking, collaborative approach to designing the future of work.

Limitations

The effectiveness of digital interventions can vary greatly depending on the specific technology, user engagement, and organizational context.

Reliability & validity

The findings are based on a synthesis of existing knowledge and conceptual arguments, rather than empirical data from a controlled experiment, which may limit generalizability and direct measurement of cause-and-effect.

Think critically

To what extent can digital interventions fully replace traditional occupational health support, and what are the ethical considerations of relying heavily on technology for employee well-being?

Design Principles

"Human-centered digital transformation requires proactive design interventions and collaborative development processes."

As digital technologies increasingly permeate the workplace, designers and researchers have a critical opportunity to influence this transformation. By developing user-centered digital tools and collaborating with stakeholders, we can ensure that technological advancements support, rather than detract from, employee well-being and productivity.

What This Means for Your Design

Using technology to help people at work and working together to design the future of jobs makes work better for everyone.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this paper when discussing the importance of user well-being in digital product design or when justifying the use of co-design methods.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The integration of digital occupational health interventions (DOHI) and co-creative design processes is essential for fostering a human-centered future of work. By developing targeted digital tools and involving diverse stakeholders in the design of evolving work systems, designers can ensure that technological advancements support, rather than compromise, employee well-being and productivity, aligning with principles of user-centered design.

Source

Scandinavian Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology

New Work—New Interventions: Digital Occupational Health Interventions and the Co-Creation of a Human-Centered Future of Work

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about digital interventions enhance workplace well-being through co-creation?: Integrate user research and co-design methodologies when developing digital workplace solutions to ensure they are both effective for health and well-being, and aligned with the evolving nature of work. Evidence: Scandinavian Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology (2023).
Why does "Digital Interventions Enhance Workplace Well-being Through Co-Creation" matter for design?: As digital technologies increasingly permeate the workplace, designers and researchers have a critical opportunity to influence this transformation. By developing user-centered digital tools and collaborating with stakeholders, we can ensure that technological advancements support, rather than detract from, employee well-being and productivity.
How can designers apply this research?: Integrate user research and co-design methodologies when developing digital workplace solutions to ensure they are both effective for health and well-being, and aligned with the evolving nature of work.
What were the main findings?: Digital occupational health interventions (DOHI) offer a powerful means to improve employee well-being in the digital age.. Co-creating the future of work, by involving organizations, employees, and health experts, is essential for a human-centered digital transformation.
What research method was used?: Narrative and visual synthesis, followed by conceptual discussion and impulse generation..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Scandinavian Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing any new digital tool for the workplace, consider its potential impact on user well-being and involve a diverse group of users and subject matter experts in the design and testing phases.
What are the limitations?: The paper acknowledges potential limitations in the current scope and application of DOHI, suggesting further research is needed to fully explore their potential and address challenges.