A dyadic training to promote technology‐related learning and development among age‐diverse employees: The power of coworkers' enthusiasm

Abstract

Age diversity and digitalization create challenges and opportunities for learning and development in organizations. In this study, we designed and tested an age diversity training for digitized work contexts to promote informal workplace learning in age‐diverse coworker dyads. The dyadic training frames age differences as an untapped developmental opportunity at digitized workplaces, enabling younger and older coworkers to benefit from each other's complementary resources. By integrating theoretical perspectives on informal learning and training transfer, we conceptualize digital collaboration readiness as a self‐regulatory transfer mechanism linking the training to developmental outcomes. We further recognize the social context as a catalyst for individual and mutual learning and argue that training effectiveness is bound by co‐learner's enthusiasm about digital technologies. Based on a randomized controlled field experiment with 167 age‐diverse dyads ( N  = 334 employees), our results showed that the training had a positive conditional indirect effect on technology exploration and mutual learning via digital collaboration readiness if the dyad partner was more enthusiastic about technology. Our research advances the literature at the intersection of age diversity and digitalization by delineating how and when the age diversity training for digitized work contexts can enhance workplace learning. This study also promotes the advancement of evidence‐based management of age‐diverse workforces.