The Influence of Generative AI on work-life balance among female software professionals in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study explores the role of generative artificial intelligence on work-life balance among female software professionals in Sri Lanka's software industry. This qualitative study explores the influence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools on workload, productivity, and overall well-being to show how these technologies uniquely shape professional and personal lives within this demographic group. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 15 female software professionals from various job roles, including software engineers, quality assurance engineers, system engineers, Development and Operations (DevOps) engineers, and project managers. Using thematic analysis, findings disclose that generative AI is mostly utilized for automation, communication and collaboration, creativity and innovation, and decision support, with ChatGPT being the most widely used tool. These tools will enable professionals to streamline the workload, increase efficiency, reduce overtime, and maintain healthy working conditions. The insights of this study yield important implications for employers and government organizations such as the Department of Labor, explicitly pointing out how generative AI can be instrumented to create a favorable work environment. Thus, by applying generative AI solutions, the key stakeholders of the Sri Lankan software industry can create work conditions crucial for the work-life balance of women to enhance organizational performance as well as the work-related well-being of female software professionals.