Reconceptualizing personalization for flourishing at work: A focus on digitally-based wellbeing interventions for ageing workers
Irushi Ediriweera

Date and Time

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Theme / Track

Arts, design, innovation and technology

Presentation Format

Poster Presentation
Population ageing has resulted in a growing ageing workforce. Individuals extending their working lives bring valuable experience and expertise, but they can also face unique and complex challenges. These include health conditions and outdated technological knowledge. The heterogeneity of the ageing workforce leads to diverse needs, especially in maintaining and enhancing their wellbeing. Digitally-based interventions are increasingly being used to support employee wellbeing, with literature suggesting a greater use of personalization in interventions. Common approaches to personalization include goal setting, adaptive content and tailored feedback. While these strategies enhance comfort and usability, they are primarily rooted in improving customization and engagement rather than supporting broader human flourishing. Flourishing refers to having high positive affect or positive emotions and functioning effectively across all aspects of a person’s life. It is characterized by domains such as meaning, purpose in life, virtue, health and social relationships. Despite the relevance of flourishing for ageing workers, the evidence base is scarce on how principles of flourishing are incorporated into design and implementation of digitally-based wellbeing. Moreover, flourishing related outcomes were rarely assessed. This presentation argues that the current framing of personalization may be too narrow and calls for a reconceptualization of personalization as a way of promoting flourishing. We advocate for embedding flourishing-based principles in the collaborative design, development and implementation of digitally-based wellbeing interventions. We contend that such a reconceptualization may help shift the focus from incorporating personalization solely for effectiveness and engagement towards personalization for flourishing among ageing workers.

Keywords

Employment, Innovation, Meaningful Engagement, Technology, Wellness / Well Being

Authors

Distinguished Professor Colette Browning
Honorary Professor Britt Klein
Associate Professor George Van Doorn
Associate Professor Cameron Foale