Balancing technology and humans – A sociomaterialistic approach to enhance learning effectiveness in the digital era

Purpose This research paper elaborates on how to balance the social (human interaction) and material (technology) aspects of e-learning and development (e-L&D) to enhance learning effectiveness in an organization. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study was implemented in two phases – in the first phase, 30 employees from oil and gas industry were reached through three focus group discussions (company-wise). The employees were spread over three different companies within the state using the same e-learning platform successfully for more than five years. Discussions were conducted to understand their experiences while using e-learning platforms. In the second phase, pain points from the first phase were discussed with eight HR practitioners from the same industry through interviews to propose countermeasures for balancing human interaction and learning effectiveness. Findings The findings show that the use of e-L&D has increased learning effectiveness but reduced human interaction. This limited human interaction negatively impacts the relationship between the use of e-L&D and learning effectiveness. Countermeasures have been suggested through this article to optimize learning effectiveness in the ongoing digital scenario. Research limitations/implications Other factors influencing learning effectiveness were not considered for this study. Longitudinal study would strengthen the findings. Practical implications A humane approach in e-learning fosters more productive and happier workplaces. This study guides the organization to rightly invest time and money in e-learning resources. Originality/value Many publications unerringly prove how digitalization has productively transformed e-learning and development. This paper adds to the ongoing discussion by focusing on the balance between ‘human’ advantage and ‘digital’ advantage in organizations.