Mobile Working Experiences
The realities of remote working
Wednesday 27 June 2007, 1:01 PM
Flexible Working
Orange yesterday launched their latest report from the Future Enterprise Coalition. Entitled 'Beyond Boundaries' the report looked in detail at current levels of flexible working amongst the UK workforce.
http://www.orangecoalition.com/
I was surprised that almost half of the UK working population are already adopting a flexible working practice - however the most common examples of these appear to be informal arrangements between an employee and their line manager. Formal, structured arrangements are less common although legal depts may be concerned when they consider that an informal arrangement could easily develop into a precedent when an employee is refused flexible working rights...
It also appears that there is a concern that a 'them and us' divide is appearing - key, managerial HQ staff have the best acess to flexible working, whilst lower grade staff struggle to get employers to accept their proposals...
It is obvious why orange are interested in this field, but nonetheless it was refreshing to note that the launch event did not once mention technology - instead the conversation focussed on company culture, environmental impact, brand perceptions and corporate social responsibility. And rightly so - technology is an enabler not a solution in its own right - the biggest barriers to flexible working are people and cultures....
The final question was interesting - where will we be in 2012? what proportion of the workforce will be working flexibly?
http://www.orangecoalition.com/
I was surprised that almost half of the UK working population are already adopting a flexible working practice - however the most common examples of these appear to be informal arrangements between an employee and their line manager. Formal, structured arrangements are less common although legal depts may be concerned when they consider that an informal arrangement could easily develop into a precedent when an employee is refused flexible working rights...
It also appears that there is a concern that a 'them and us' divide is appearing - key, managerial HQ staff have the best acess to flexible working, whilst lower grade staff struggle to get employers to accept their proposals...
It is obvious why orange are interested in this field, but nonetheless it was refreshing to note that the launch event did not once mention technology - instead the conversation focussed on company culture, environmental impact, brand perceptions and corporate social responsibility. And rightly so - technology is an enabler not a solution in its own right - the biggest barriers to flexible working are people and cultures....
The final question was interesting - where will we be in 2012? what proportion of the workforce will be working flexibly?
Tuesday 19 June 2007, 10:09 PM
The internet is mobile?
Vodafone (via a Judi Dench voiceover) are now telling us that the 'Internet is (truly) mobile'. Their rather beautiful new TV ad campaign broke on Sunday night - it is a very 'feel good' message, has a Walt Disney feel to it and reminded me of the Christmas Coke ad.
But - what are the experiences of users? is the new service as good as they claim? I have found the page rendering to be improved, but the speed of download is still variable and navigation remains clumsy on my BB Pearl.
Will Mobile Internet Browsing ever take off? are the operators just desparate for new streams of revenue?
But - what are the experiences of users? is the new service as good as they claim? I have found the page rendering to be improved, but the speed of download is still variable and navigation remains clumsy on my BB Pearl.
Will Mobile Internet Browsing ever take off? are the operators just desparate for new streams of revenue?
Wednesday 13 June 2007, 9:28 AM
What matters more - speed or quality of response?
With the proliferation of mobile devices amongst mobile workers offering 24/7 connectivity, I have noticed an interesting communication trend. Emails are now being sent at all times of day and night by workers who are either in different time zones or apparently lack any need to sleep.
When these emails come from a senior level there seems to be a virtual race to respond, in some cases I have heard colleagues talk of entire conversations being held over email between 8pm on a Sunday evening and 8am on Monday morning - inevitably excluding those people sensible enough to switch off their BBs.
So what matters more - the speed of response or the quality and deliberation of the content of that response? The answer would seem obvious, yet with the pressure to make decisions quickly I fear that important opinions may not be consulted because of the apparent urgency of a business decision.
The excellent Economist article mentioned in another posting on this blog claims that the issue is not Blackberrys invading private life but the reverse, private communications invading the workplace. I think the issue is more about the general blurring of private and workplace boundaries - for some the use of a Blackberry puts them in control of their work-life balance, for others it seems to be the employer in control.
Are we happy with this blurring of work-life boundaries? who benefits most from this evolution?
When these emails come from a senior level there seems to be a virtual race to respond, in some cases I have heard colleagues talk of entire conversations being held over email between 8pm on a Sunday evening and 8am on Monday morning - inevitably excluding those people sensible enough to switch off their BBs.
So what matters more - the speed of response or the quality and deliberation of the content of that response? The answer would seem obvious, yet with the pressure to make decisions quickly I fear that important opinions may not be consulted because of the apparent urgency of a business decision.
The excellent Economist article mentioned in another posting on this blog claims that the issue is not Blackberrys invading private life but the reverse, private communications invading the workplace. I think the issue is more about the general blurring of private and workplace boundaries - for some the use of a Blackberry puts them in control of their work-life balance, for others it seems to be the employer in control.
Are we happy with this blurring of work-life boundaries? who benefits most from this evolution?
Friday 8 June 2007, 5:53 PM
Why do we still carry multiple mobile devices?
Despite the rapid advances in smartphones - why do most business travellers that I meet still carry at least two devices (e.g blackberry + separate mobile phone)?
Most devices today integrate the functions of a phone, email device, camera, MP3 player and even basic Office applications.
Do these integrated devices compromise the quality of individual functions (e.g. the crap camera on the BB Pearl)?
Do we like to keep one phone for personal and one phone for business communications (but why not use dual sims)?
Do we like the security of having a back-up device in case the battery runs out on our main device?
Do we need one device pressed to our ear for voice calls, plus another device that we can simultaneously 'read' to look at emails, contacts, calendar etc...
or do we just like to show how important and busy we are by plonking multiple devices down on the desk in front of us?
Bizarrely - I saw a guy on the train recently who had a phone and Blackberry both with headphone headsets, one plugged into each ear, he was happily switching between devices to make calls and did not appear remotely self-conscious....
Most devices today integrate the functions of a phone, email device, camera, MP3 player and even basic Office applications.
Do these integrated devices compromise the quality of individual functions (e.g. the crap camera on the BB Pearl)?
Do we like to keep one phone for personal and one phone for business communications (but why not use dual sims)?
Do we like the security of having a back-up device in case the battery runs out on our main device?
Do we need one device pressed to our ear for voice calls, plus another device that we can simultaneously 'read' to look at emails, contacts, calendar etc...
or do we just like to show how important and busy we are by plonking multiple devices down on the desk in front of us?
Bizarrely - I saw a guy on the train recently who had a phone and Blackberry both with headphone headsets, one plugged into each ear, he was happily switching between devices to make calls and did not appear remotely self-conscious....
Friday 1 June 2007, 4:24 PM
Any recommendations for road-tested laptops?
I am growing increasingly frustrated with my unreliable Toshiba Portege. Described as 'ultra-portable' it would appear that a better description would be 'ultra-portable (providing you wrap it in cotton wool)'. The hard disk has developed an annoying habit of being knocked out of place when in my bag, hence I have to carry a small screwdriver (not supplied with the laptop!) to remove the hard disk and then reset in its original location.
Are these ultraportables getting too thin and making compromises in robust design?
Can anyone recommend a more rugged laptop (preferably not weighing over 1.5kg...)?
Are these ultraportables getting too thin and making compromises in robust design?
Can anyone recommend a more rugged laptop (preferably not weighing over 1.5kg...)?
