Adaptive Meaning-Making among Professionals in Uncertain Organizations
Main Article Content
Abstract
Human experience, as shaped by social, cultural, and organizational contexts, has become an important focus in contemporary qualitative research. Within this field, phenomenology offers a framework for exploring how individuals assign meaning to their lived experiences, yet many studies fail to fully capture the depth of such meaning-making processes. Existing approaches often rely on procedural or quantitative measures, leaving unanswered the question of how people negotiate uncertainty, construct meaning, and transform challenges within specific contexts. This study applies an interpretative phenomenological approach to address this gap, providing an in-depth account of the essential themes embedded in participants’ narratives. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with twelve (12) purposively selected participants, consisting of mid-level and senior professionals (aged 29–54 years) from diverse organizational sectors, including education, healthcare, and corporate management. The selection ensured representation of both genders and varying lengths of professional experience to capture a broad range of perspectives related to adaptive meaning-making. Thematic analysis identified four interrelated themes: adaptive strategies, emotional labor, social support, and personal transformation. These themes revealed a dynamic process in which participants not only responded to challenges but also reinterpreted them as opportunities for growth. The interpretative process was supported by verbatim quotations to ensure authenticity and to ground thematic patterns in participants’ own language. The analysis demonstrated that resilience emerged from the interplay between individual agency and relational support, reflecting both personal and collective dimensions of meaning-making. These findings enhance current understanding by integrating emotional, social, and transformative aspects of lived experience, offering practical implications for developing context-sensitive interventions. Future research can extend these insights through cross-cultural and longitudinal studies to further enrich the theoretical and practical contributions of phenomenological inquiry.
Article Details
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Al-Adwan, A. S., Li, N., Al-Adwan, A., Abbasi, G. A., Albelbisi, N. A., & Habibi, A. (2023). “Extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to Predict University Students’ Intentions to Use Metaverse-Based Learning Platforms”. Education and Information Technologies, 28(11), 15381–15413. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-11816-3
Al-Alwan, M. A. M., Al-Nawafah, S. S., Al-Shorman, H. M., Khrisat, F. A., Alathamneh, F. F., & Al-Hawary, S. I. S. (2022). The effect of big data on decision quality: Evidence from telecommunication industry. International Journal of Data and Network Science, 6(3), 693–702. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ijdns.2022.4.003
Alqahtani, A. Y., & Rajkhan, A. A. (2020). E-learning critical success factors during the covid-19 pandemic: A comprehensive analysis of e-learning managerial perspectives. Education Sciences, 10(9), 1–16. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci10090216
Al-Zyadat, A. T., Alsaraireh, J. M., Al-Husban, D. A. O., Al-Shorman, H. M., Mohammad, A. A. S., Alathamneh, F. F., & Al-Hawary, S. I. S. (2022). The effect of industry 4.0 on sustainability of industrial organizations in Jordan. International Journal of Data and Network Science, 6(4), 1437–1446. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ijdns.2022.5.007
Asongu, S. A., & Odhiambo, N. M. (2020). Foreign direct investment, information technology and economic growth dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa. Telecommunications Policy, 44(1). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2019.101838
Bhargava, A., Bester, M., & Bolton, L. (2021). Employees’ Perceptions of the Implementation of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Automation (RAIA) on Job Satisfaction, Job Security, and Employability. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 6(1), 106–113. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-020-00153-8
Caffaro, F., Micheletti Cremasco, M., Roccato, M., & Cavallo, E. (2020). Drivers of farmers’ intention to adopt technological innovations in Italy: The role of information sources, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use. Journal of Rural Studies, 76, 264–271. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2020.04.028
Chege, S. M., Wang, D., & Suntu, S. L. (2020). Impact of information technology innovation on firm performance in Kenya. Information Technology for Development, 26(2), 316–345. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2019.1573717
Cubric, M. (2020). Drivers, barriers and social considerations for AI adoption in business and management: A tertiary study. Technology in Society, 62. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2020.101257
Donthu, N., Kumar, S., Pandey, N., & Gupta, P. (2021). Forty years of the International Journal of Information Management: A bibliometric analysis. International Journal of Information Management, 57. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102307
Durán, J. M., & Jongsma, K. R. (2021). Who is afraid of black box algorithms? On the epistemological and ethical basis of trust in medical AI. Journal of Medical Ethics, 47(5), 329–335. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2020-106820
Dwivedi, Y. K., Hughes, D. L., Coombs, C., Constantiou, I., Duan, Y., Edwards, J. S., Gupta, B., Lal, B., Misra, S., Prashant, P., Raman, R., Rana, N. P., Sharma, S. K., & Upadhyay, N. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on information management research and practice: Transforming education, work and life. International Journal of Information Management, 55. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102211
Dwivedi, Y. K., Hughes, L., Kar, A. K., Baabdullah, A. M., Grover, P., Abbas, R., Andreini, D., Abumoghli, I., Barlette, Y., Bunker, D., Chandra Kruse, L., Constantiou, I., Davison, R. M., De, R., Dubey, R., Fenby-Taylor, H., Gupta, B., He, W., Kodama, M., … Wade, M. (2022). Climate change and COP26: Are digital technologies and information management part of the problem or the solution? An editorial reflection and call to action. International Journal of Information Management, 63. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102456
Dwivedi, Y. K., Kshetri, N., Hughes, L., Slade, E. L., Jeyaraj, A., Kar, A. K., Baabdullah, A. M., Koohang, A., Raghavan, V., Ahuja, M., Albanna, H., Albashrawi, M. A., Al-Busaidi, A. S., Balakrishnan, J., Barlette, Y., Basu, S., Bose, I., Brooks, L., Buhalis, D., … Wright, R. (2023). “So what if ChatGPT wrote it?” Multidisciplinary perspectives on opportunities, challenges and implications of generative conversational AI for research, practice and policy. International Journal of Information Management, 71. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2023.102642
Fields, D. (2022). Automated landlord: Digital technologies and post-crisis financial accumulation. Environment and Planning A, 54(1), 160–181. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518X19846514
Gao, Y., Zhao, D., Yu, L., & Yang, H. (2020). Influence of a new agricultural technology extension mode on farmers’ technology adoption behavior in China. Journal of Rural Studies, 76, 173–183. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2020.04.016
Hacker, J., vom Brocke, J., Handali, J., Otto, M., & Schneider, J. (2020). Virtually in this together–how web-conferencing systems enabled a new virtual togetherness during the COVID-19 crisis. European Journal of Information Systems, 29(5), 563–584. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/0960085X.2020.1814680
He, W., Zhang, Z. J., & Li, W. (2021). Information technology solutions, challenges, and suggestions for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Information Management, 57. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102287
Heidari, A., Navimipour, N. J., & Unal, M. (2022). Applications of ML/DL in the management of smart cities and societies based on new trends in information technologies: A systematic literature review. Sustainable Cities and Society, 85. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.104089
Kalkman, S., Van Delden, J., Banerjee, A., Tyl, B., Mostert, M., & Van Thiel, G. (2022). Patients’ and public views and attitudes towards the sharing of health data for research: A narrative review of the empirical evidence. Journal of Medical Ethics, 48(1), 3–13. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2019-105651
Kitsios, F., & Kamariotou, M. (2021). Artificial intelligence and business strategy towards digital transformation: A research agenda. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(4), 1–16. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042025
Kokol, P., Blažun Vošner, H., & Završnik, J. (2021). Application of bibliometrics in medicine: A historical bibliometrics analysis. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 38(2), 125–138. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12295
Kuleto, V., Ilić, M., Dumangiu, M., Ranković, M., Martins, O. M. D., Păun, D., & Mihoreanu, L. (2021). Exploring opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence and machine learning in higher education institutions. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(18). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810424
Lahkani, M. J., Wang, S., Urbański, M., & Egorova, M. (2020). Sustainable B2B E-commerce and blockchain-based supply chain finance. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(10). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU12103968
Lam, L., Nguyen, P., Le, N., & Tran, K. (2021). The relation among organizational culture, knowledge management, and innovation capability: Its implication for open innovation. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 7(1), 1–16. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc7010066
Lee, P., Hunter, W. C., & Chung, N. (2020). Smart tourism city: Developments and transformations. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(10). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU12103958
Lew, S., Tan, G. W.-H., Loh, X.-M., Hew, J.-J., & Ooi, K.-B. (2020). The disruptive mobile wallet in the hospitality industry: An extended mobile technology acceptance model. Technology in Society, 63. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2020.101430
Liu, G., & Ma, C. (2024). Measuring EFL learners’ use of ChatGPT in informal digital learning of English based on the technology acceptance model. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, 18(2), 125–138. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/17501229.2023.2240316
Liu, Z.-Y., Lomovtseva, N., & Korobeynikova, E. (2020). Online learning platforms: Reconstructing modern higher education. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 15(13), 4–21. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v15i13.14645
Luo, Y., Yu, X., Yang, D., & Zhou, B. (2023). A survey of intelligent transmission line inspection based on unmanned aerial vehicle. Artificial Intelligence Review, 56(1), 173–201. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10462-022-10189-2
Mian, S. H., Salah, B., Ameen, W., Moiduddin, K., & Alkhalefah, H. (2020). Adapting universities for sustainability education in industry 4.0: Channel of challenges and opportunities. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(15). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12156100
Parmentola, A., Petrillo, A., Tutore, I., & De Felice, F. (2022). Is blockchain able to enhance environmental sustainability? A systematic review and research agenda from the perspective of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Business Strategy and the Environment, 31(1), 194–217. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2882
Raišiene, A. G., Rapuano, V., Varkulevičiute, K., & Stachová, K. (2020). Working from home-Who is happy? A survey of Lithuania’s employees during the COVID-19 quarantine period. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(13). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135332
Ren, S., Hao, Y., & Wu, H. (2023). Digitalization and environment governance: Does internet development reduce environmental pollution? Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 66(7), 1533–1562. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2022.2033959
Renjith, S., Sreekumar, A., & Jathavedan, M. (2020). An extensive study on the evolution of context-aware personalized travel recommender systems. Information Processing and Management, 57(1). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ipm.2019.102078
Sanders, C. K., & Scanlon, E. (2021). The Digital Divide Is a Human Rights Issue: Advancing Social Inclusion Through Social Work Advocacy. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 6(2), 130–143. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-020-00147-9
Sima, V., Gheorghe, I. G., Subić, J., & Nancu, D. (2020). Influences of the industry 4.0 revolution on the human capital development and consumer behavior: A systematic review. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(10). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU12104035
Szymkowiak, A., Melović, B., Dabić, M., Jeganathan, K., & Kundi, G. S. (2021). Information technology and Gen Z: The role of teachers, the internet, and technology in the education of young people. Technology in Society, 65. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101565
Tariq, E., Alshurideh, M., Akour, I., & Al-Hawary, S. (2022). The effect of digital marketing capabilities on organizational ambidexterity of the information technology sector. International Journal of Data and Network Science, 6(2), 401–408. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ijdns.2021.12.014
Vamvaka, V., Stoforos, C., Palaskas, T., & Botsaris, C. (2020). Attitude toward entrepreneurship, perceived behavioral control, and entrepreneurial intention: Dimensionality, structural relationships, and gender differences. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 9(1). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-020-0112-0