Cultural Egalitarianism Moderates the Link Between ICT Use and Job Satisfaction: A Multilevel Perspective

Prior research on the relationship between Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use and job satisfaction has shown inconsistencies. This warrants retesting the relationship with larger, more representative multinational samples, and considering potential moderating factors, such as national culture. Using data from two multinational surveys (28 countries/regions and 32 countries/regions, respectively), we examine the relationship between ICT use and job satisfaction in a cross-cultural context, focusing on the role of cultural egalitarianism in this relationship. Results from multilevel analyses show a positive association between ICT use and job satisfaction. This association was moderated by the level of cultural egalitarianism: in more egalitarian cultures, the link between ICT use and job satisfaction is weaker. We conjecture that this pattern is due to the inherent satisfaction provided by the egalitarian culture itself, thereby reducing the perceived contribution of ICT use to job satisfaction. These findings hold significant implications for organizations and policymakers, particularly in an increasingly globalized and digitized work environment. This study emphasizes the importance of considering local cultural contexts in ICT strategy implementation and of cultivating an egalitarian culture to enhance job satisfaction.