THE WORK ANYTIME ANYWHERE MOBILITY BLUES

David Pauleen
Victoria University of Wellington

Brian Harmer
Victoria University of Wellington

     Full text: PDF
     Last modified: October 5, 2007
     Presentation date: 11/20/2007 11:30 AM in RH MZ05
     (View Schedule)

Abstract
This article highlights findings from research that investigated the impacts of technology on how New Zealanders work and live. Although personal productivity technologies are clearly evolving to move work outside of organisational boundaries, the wider effects on peoples’ work and life have not been broadly explored. Using narrative enquiry to collect stories from people who have adopted such ordinary productivity tools as laptops, mobile communications devices and networks, we have found that the resultant mobility has had significant impacts on their work and life. We conclude that there may be important organisational and personal management issues at stake and offer guidelines for managing employees who now work at any time and in any place