THE ROLE OF INTEGRATED DIGITAL WORKSPACE PLATFORMS (IDWPS) AND PERSONALIZED NUDGING IN REDUCING EMPLOYEE CYBER-LOAFING

Muhammad Tariq Siddiqui; Ambreen Ashfaq; Muhammad Kamran Ashfaq; Sarim Zafar; Fatima Zafar Farooqui; Ariba Khan

Authors

Muhammad Tariq Siddiqui
Ambreen Ashfaq
Muhammad Kamran Ashfaq
Sarim Zafar
Fatima Zafar Farooqui
Ariba Khan

Keywords:

Integrated Digital Workspace Platforms, Cyber-Loafing, Digital Nudging, Personalized Nudging, Workplace Distraction, Digital Transformation

Abstract

This study investigates the interactive effects of Integrated Digital Workspace Platform (IDWP) integration and AI-powered personalized nudging on employee cyber-loafing. A quantitative longitudinal field experiment was conducted with 199 employees in technology-driven organizations in Karachi over twelve weeks. Participants were randomly assigned to four conditions based on platform integration (high versus low) and nudging intensity (high versus low frequency). Cyber-loafing was measured through system-logged data capturing time spent on non-work-related digital activities during work hours. Two-way ANOVA results revealed a significant main effect of platform integration, F(1, 195) = 324.83, p < 0.001, η² = 0.625, indicating that employees using highly integrated platforms engaged in substantially more cyber-loafing (M = 29.32 minutes) than those with low-integration platforms (M = 12.79 minutes). However, the main effect of nudging intensity was non-significant, F(1, 195) = 0.88, p = 0.349, and the hypothesized interaction effect between platform integration and nudging intensity also failed to achieve significance, F(1, 195) = 0.16, p = 0.688. These findings suggest that while platform integration significantly influences cyber-loafing, AI-powered personalized nudging as operationalized in this study did not reduce non-work digital activity nor counterbalance the distractive effects of highly integrated workspaces. The results challenge the growing optimism surrounding digital nudging as a workplace intervention and highlight the need for alternative strategies. Organizations should prioritize thoughtful platform design and consider complementary approaches such as digital wellness initiatives. Future research should explore adaptive nudging mechanisms, varied delivery formats, and longer intervention periods to identify conditions under which digital nudging may effectively mitigate workplace cyber-loafing.