A Model for Understanding and Reducing Developer Burnout

TL;DR

This paper presents an empirical model based on a large survey to understand how organizational factors influence developer burnout and suggests strategies for organizations to foster a healthier work environment.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical model linking organizational culture, team climate, and burnout, validated through a large-scale survey of software developers.

Findings

Organizational culture and team climate positively influence work satisfaction.

Higher work satisfaction correlates with reduced developer burnout.

Creating an inclusive and learning-oriented environment can mitigate burnout.

Abstract

Job burnout is a type of work-related stress associated with a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity. Burnt out can affect one's physical and mental health and has become a leading industry concern and can result in high workforce turnover. Through an empirical study at Globant, a large multi-national company, we created a theoretical model to evaluate the complex interplay among organizational culture, work satisfaction, and team climate, and how they impact developer burnout. We conducted a survey of developers in software delivery teams (n=3281) to test our model and analyzed the data using structural equation modeling, moderation, and multi-group analysis. Our results show that Organizational Culture, Climate for Learning, Sense of Belonging, and Inclusiveness are positively associated with Work Satisfaction, which in turn is associated with Reduced Burnout. Our model generated through a large-scale survey can guide organizations in how to reduce workforce burnout by creating a climate for learning, inclusiveness in teams, and a generative organizational culture where new ideas are welcome, information is actively sought and bad news can be shared without fear.