(Published in the Manila Standard Today under the Greenlight column, Oct 31, 2005)
Our company recently acquired a number of subscriptions of WeRoam from a telecom company which was distributed to all personnel, who are most of the time in the field, either on sales calls or servicing clients. WeRoam is a wireless internet service that runs on GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution) technologies, providing up to 220 kbps (kilobytes per second) connection speed and nationwide coverage to laptop users.
After only a few weeks of usage, my colleagues and I have discovered a new way of working – true mobility that maximizes the utilization of our time. What is amazing with these new technologies is that it allows one to connect to the Internet, access back-office applications and collaborate with colleagues, customers, and suppliers wirelessly and while on the move anywhere in the country, thereby tremendously increasing productivity. Does this signal the emergence of a new workforce – the true mobile workforce?
Transforming how we work
The mobile workforce has evolved through the advancement of information and communications technology (ICT). Mobility was enhanced with the advent of mobile phones, PDA’s and laptops, allowing people to work anywhere while staying in touch. In the earlier days, connectivity to the Internet was limited to dial-up access through telephone lines.
These technologies support mobility completely and transform the way we work and communicate.
Benefits of mobility
There are many advantages of having a mobile workforce. For one, many studies point to the productivity and efficiency gains brought forth by mobility and wireless connectivity among employees. One research study which I authored and published in the cover story of Asian Communications in 2002 titled “How Employees Use SMS”, discovered that work-related use of SMS (short message service) among field employees leads to work efficiency gains and improved collaborative decision-making.
Another benefit of a mobile workforce is that companies can reduce their capital costs for offices and associated infrastructure, since employees will be most of the time in the field. Employees likewise reduce their transportation costs associated with commuting to and from the workplace.
Lastly, a mobile workforce acts as a “disaster recovery” facility, enabling employees to continue with their work wherever they are even if the offices becomes uninhabitable; or when transportation to and from the workplace becomes dangerous due to calamities.
Drawbacks in implementation
While the benefits of a mobile workforce are clear, there are however drawbacks in its implementation. Some employees may abuse the newfound freedom from mobility, and instead spend their time away from the workplace on personal matters.
Also, employees, untrained in the use of mobility tools and technology, may not fully maximize the full potential of mobility and result to wastage of investment and resources.
Finally, as in any alternative way of working, some employees may dislike the change to mobility and feel isolated and disconnected from the other colleagues and management; thereby fostering fragmentation instead of unity.
Developing effective strategies
Despite these downsides, many companies are still heavily investing in the tools of mobility, and are developing effective strategies to deal with the emerging mobile workforce.
One strategy is for companies to communicate the organization’s purpose, mission, and vision; and inculcate a sense of identity and culture of teamwork. This will instill a sense of responsibility and accountability among mobile employees who will strive to utilize mobility and its tools to help achieve the organization’s objectives.
Moreover, companies need to standardize mobility tools and technologies in the entire organization; and develop user training and retraining programs to ensure that all mobile employees in the company are aware of the capabilities of the tools and how these can help them achieve their performance goals.
In conclusion, the mobile workforce can bring tremendous benefits to the organization in terms of productivity and efficiency enhancements and cost savings. Managers and organization members should maximize the full potential of this empowerment in order to help achieve the goals of the organization.
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Reynaldo Lugtu, Jr. teaches Management Principles and Dynamics, Special Topics in Business Management, and Marketing of High-Tech Products and Innovations in the MBA Program of De La Salle Professional Schools. He is an executive in an IT services firm. He may be e-mailed at rlugtu2002@yahoo.com.
Our company recently acquired a number of subscriptions of WeRoam from a telecom company which was distributed to all personnel, who are most of the time in the field, either on sales calls or servicing clients. WeRoam is a wireless internet service that runs on GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution) technologies, providing up to 220 kbps (kilobytes per second) connection speed and nationwide coverage to laptop users.
After only a few weeks of usage, my colleagues and I have discovered a new way of working – true mobility that maximizes the utilization of our time. What is amazing with these new technologies is that it allows one to connect to the Internet, access back-office applications and collaborate with colleagues, customers, and suppliers wirelessly and while on the move anywhere in the country, thereby tremendously increasing productivity. Does this signal the emergence of a new workforce – the true mobile workforce?
Transforming how we work
The mobile workforce has evolved through the advancement of information and communications technology (ICT). Mobility was enhanced with the advent of mobile phones, PDA’s and laptops, allowing people to work anywhere while staying in touch. In the earlier days, connectivity to the Internet was limited to dial-up access through telephone lines.
These technologies support mobility completely and transform the way we work and communicate.
Benefits of mobility
There are many advantages of having a mobile workforce. For one, many studies point to the productivity and efficiency gains brought forth by mobility and wireless connectivity among employees. One research study which I authored and published in the cover story of Asian Communications in 2002 titled “How Employees Use SMS”, discovered that work-related use of SMS (short message service) among field employees leads to work efficiency gains and improved collaborative decision-making.
Another benefit of a mobile workforce is that companies can reduce their capital costs for offices and associated infrastructure, since employees will be most of the time in the field. Employees likewise reduce their transportation costs associated with commuting to and from the workplace.
Lastly, a mobile workforce acts as a “disaster recovery” facility, enabling employees to continue with their work wherever they are even if the offices becomes uninhabitable; or when transportation to and from the workplace becomes dangerous due to calamities.
Drawbacks in implementation
While the benefits of a mobile workforce are clear, there are however drawbacks in its implementation. Some employees may abuse the newfound freedom from mobility, and instead spend their time away from the workplace on personal matters.
Also, employees, untrained in the use of mobility tools and technology, may not fully maximize the full potential of mobility and result to wastage of investment and resources.
Finally, as in any alternative way of working, some employees may dislike the change to mobility and feel isolated and disconnected from the other colleagues and management; thereby fostering fragmentation instead of unity.
Developing effective strategies
Despite these downsides, many companies are still heavily investing in the tools of mobility, and are developing effective strategies to deal with the emerging mobile workforce.
One strategy is for companies to communicate the organization’s purpose, mission, and vision; and inculcate a sense of identity and culture of teamwork. This will instill a sense of responsibility and accountability among mobile employees who will strive to utilize mobility and its tools to help achieve the organization’s objectives.
Moreover, companies need to standardize mobility tools and technologies in the entire organization; and develop user training and retraining programs to ensure that all mobile employees in the company are aware of the capabilities of the tools and how these can help them achieve their performance goals.
In conclusion, the mobile workforce can bring tremendous benefits to the organization in terms of productivity and efficiency enhancements and cost savings. Managers and organization members should maximize the full potential of this empowerment in order to help achieve the goals of the organization.
------------------------
Reynaldo Lugtu, Jr. teaches Management Principles and Dynamics, Special Topics in Business Management, and Marketing of High-Tech Products and Innovations in the MBA Program of De La Salle Professional Schools. He is an executive in an IT services firm. He may be e-mailed at rlugtu2002@yahoo.com.
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