Technology is everywhere. The evolution of the handheld device has allowed email and networking to be portable, convenient, and easier than ever before. Once only for personal use it now has further evolved for use in the workplace. These type of networking has blurred the lines between personal space and workplace.
While the benefits of networking are numerous. The most important and impactful benefit is flexibility. Networking allows for work times and workloads to be flexible. Having a freely available internet for workers allows tasks to be accomplished on a convenient timetable and almost anywhere. This type of arrangement is called teleworking. Teleworking allows workers to work from home instead of commuting to and from work everyday. This type of arrangement allows for workers with families to meet familial obligations and still perform their work duties at the highest level possible. The by product of teleworking is happier employees which results in higher quality work and better results. The downside of teleworking is it is not a viable option in every professional situation. For example, as a special education teacher I would not be able to teach my class from afar as my job requires a lot of hand-over-hand instruction and activities. However, as this program attests, educating this way is not completely out of the question.
Another benefit of this type of networking is bringing in talent from almost anywhere. Generally, an organization or business is limited to a pool of applicants or employees that is geographically close to said organization or business. Unless an applicant or employee wants to relocate and uproot their family this is not always the best way for attracting and acquiring the best talent. Networking allows work to be done anywhere there is an internet connection; therefore allowing for top talent to be drawn to an organization or business. Networking in this way directly benefits organizations and businesses by increasing quality and results.
An unintended benefit of this type of networking drawing in top talent is the visibility it provides an organization. People talk and organizations and businesses get reputations. Successful networking and teleworking, that is allowing workers to take full advantage of the benefits of the medium, gets out to competitors and job seekers. This talk, especially if it is positive, can be a boon for an organization or company. This brings notoriety and can create or embellish an organization or businesses reputation.
So as to not only look at the networking with only 'rose-colored' glasses. There is the issue of self-motivation versus manager driven productivity. Does networking (or teleworking, specifically) allow for workers to be lazy? While the nature of individuals (good vs evil) can be debated. Laziness comes in all shapes and sizes and can be done here, there, or anywhere. Not all workers are self-motivated. That being said, some workers would not be ideal candidates for teleworking. Much like for other situations, personality tests can be administered to assure organizations that employees are placed appropriately to ensure the success of the teleworking process and ultimately the success of the organization or company.
Regardless of where you stand on networking or teleworking. Technology changes and develops at light speed. Further technological development will streamline networking and teleworking making it easier and more practical. Both are here to stay. This will just further blur the lines between personal space and the workplace.
Hello Robert,
ReplyDeleteGreat post and great points throughout. I think a really important point to discuss about having a successful networked employee is made in your statement and question:
"There is the issue of self-motivation versus manager driven productivity. Does networking (or teleworking, specifically) allow for workers to be lazy?"
I think the answer is yes, there definitely is opportunity for laziness and slackers - but - that is the case in any job position. If there is an opportunity to be lazy and the employee has a propensity for looking for opportunities to slack off - then it will happen.
One of my peers manages a network infrastructure group and his staff are as networked as mine are - two of his staff are notorious for finding ways to slack off. In fact, I found one of his guys nonchalantly playing a flight simulator game on my PC when he was supposed to be updating my system. As you said, not all workers are self-motivated.
One thing I do make crystal clear to my staff is that being a networked employee means that they have earned my trust and my respect in their being a professional, self-motivated, salaried employee who will be where they need to be to get the job they are responsible for done in as timely a manner as possible. I do not tolerate slackers or those who try to work the system to their advantage.
One thing about being as visible as we are in my institution; I almost know when and where my staff are and what they are doing before they even tell me because I am so connected into the culture and 'grapevine' communication of my institution.
I have found that there is a level of skepticism and at times jealousy that non-networked employees have towards networked employees. Oddly enough, it often appears to the casual, non-networked employees that the networked employees are wandering about and slacking off since they have visible institutional freedom and mobility.
Those who know me and my staff are aware of how much and how hard we work but those who don't interact with us have a wholly different perception of us than is accurate. That perception is one of the challenges that I didn't previously identify in my post.
Do you think that there is a limit to how networked you can be in your current job?
If you were the Principal of your institution, would you make any changes in how things were done to enable a more networked environment?
Thanks,
Pat
Nice reply to my post. I agree with your assessment. Those who are going to slack off are going to regardless of the circumstances of their work situation. You bring up a salient point of friction between the networked and non-networked workers.
DeleteIn my current job, there is a definite limit to how networked you can be. When it comes to interactions with students, face-to-face interactions are most important.
I have no interest in being principal, but if I were I would seek more networked connections with our stakeholders. Primarily our parents. I do not believe there needs to be more connectivity amongst the administration and staff, but improved connectivity. The current administration does not use the current sources of connectivity effectively or efficiently.
Thank you!
Robert
Great post Robert, and I agree about the blurring of lines! That is a major theme here this week, in fact. I think, as that happens, and options and flexibility increase, the human relational elements become more and more important. And as you point out, in so many contexts, the "hands on" human interaction element remains central and vital.
ReplyDeleteIn my field of working with students with special needs, technology has the amazing effect of awakening the sleeper inside. However, it cannot replace face-to-face interactions.
DeleteRobert
Robert,
ReplyDeleteThe lines are in deed become more blurred between work and personal uses of the internet. Your post reminds me of the old descriptor of the internet as information super highway. Physical highways carry people to places for recreation and play but there is also a steady presence of work vehicles and semi-trucks making work happen. The internet, now, is exactly the same.
However, as we all know the internet is much more private and anonymous place with distractions at every turn. I remember reading an article a few years ago about some internet apps and plugins such as FocusMe that limit access or time the amount of time one can spend on certain sites. It's interesting to think that people self-recognize their distractions are so deep they can't limit themselves on their own. I can imagine a time when these apps are even more prevalent or packaged into a work program suite like Microsoft Office's Internet Explorer to ensure their usage. I'm curious to see where these ideas go.
I firmly believe the internet is ever-changing and will continue to evolve. We are only seeing the beginning of what is to come...
DeleteAgain, another nice blog.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the other posts previous on how these lines between personal and working life is now blurred. Those things seem to work well in certain careers, for example, right now as doctorate students, we are studying things that are concerning work. Personal and private are complimentary. But other items, we are not so sure... Is is okay if an employee leaves work 15 minutes a day early several times a week to pick kids up from school, but on the same token answers emails after dinner at home every day?
Does it make some people lazy? Well, yes. Just ask Yahoo's President. Accountability is still needed.
The other item mentioned as a comment is so interesting and true is the level of perception of those not physically present compared to those that are present. This is a factor in an online class or using technology to flip a class. This is just as challenging way as a face-to-face class, but traditional instructors can view the non-lecturer as "not really teaching."
I liked how we learned in the book, Here Comes Everybody by Clay Shirkey, that change is happening.... and just like the debate that educators had about allowing calculators in the classroom ended up being a fruitless debate, because change was occurring regardless of the debate, the same is true for our changing work environment due to technology. Change is occurring, we just need to learn how to smooth out the bumps and bruises while we cope with the new way of working.
Indeed change is coming...we can either embrace it or get run-over by it...like it or not?
DeleteNice post, Robert. The lines are indeed blurring...even in areas that are "hands-on". I am thinking of the interesting work done recently with autistic children and iPads, engaging a population with which one previously had difficulties making connections.
ReplyDelete