A technological leap in workplace engagement for industry 5.0: Introducing BoosToRaise

Industry 5.0 (I5.0) shifts focus from technological dominance to the human element, addressing the evolving needs of younger generations such as Y and Z, who seek meaningful work, autonomy, and social responsibility. This study develops a novel engagement framework aligned with I5.0 principles and operationalized through the BoosToRaise platform, integrating Protean Career Attitude (PCA), Participatory Design (PD), and Learning Organization (LO) to enhance workforce engagement and organizational resilience. Using an abductive research approach, the platform was developed and iteratively refined through Design Thinking, Co-Creation, and Agile methodologies across three multinational organizations from diverse industries. The research highlights a critical gap in existing digital tools—like IBM Kenexa, BetterUp, Microsoft Viva, and Leapsome—that, despite offering performance management and training, largely operate in top-down models prioritizing monitoring over empowerment. These platforms fall short in enabling self-directed career planning, genuine co-design, and dynamic peer learning, limiting their ability to meet generational expectations. This study reframes technology as an empowerment agent, advocating its redesign grounded in I5.0's human-centric values. Also, it expands I5.0's sustainability focus by emphasizing social sustainability—the strategic retention and growth of human capital—as vital for organizational competitiveness amid high turnover and knowledge loss. This framework challenges organizations to rethink employee-technology relationships, promoting digital engagement as a driver of inclusion, empowerment, and continuous development, offering practical insights to build workplaces that thrive in a human-centered future.