Exploring barriers that prevent employees from experiencing flow in the software industry

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the barriers that prevent workers in the software industry from experiencing flow in their work. Design/methodology/approachThis study was conducted by using a qualitative critical incident technique-inspired questionnaire. FindingsThe findings suggest that workers in the software industry perceive that the most obvious obstacles to experiencing flow are related to work not presenting enough cognitive challenges and situational barriers related to the characteristics of the job (e.g. workdays having too many interruptions and distractions, timetables often being considered too tight for creative exploration and problem solving and having negative user experiences with development tools). Originality/valueThe findings provide insights into flow barriers, specifically barriers that prevent workers in the software industry from experiencing flow.