scholarly journals Illusions of Balance and Control in an Always-On Environment: A Case Study of BlackBerry Users

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Middleton
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
And Control ◽  
Organisational Cultures ◽  
Wireless Mobile

This paper presents a qualitative case study of Canadian BlackBerry® users. It begins with a brief description of the BlackBerry, a handheld wireless mobile email device developed by Research in Motion1 . BlackBerry users find their devices to be empowering, allowing them more control over their environments. The BlackBerry does give its users a mechanism to exert control over the management of daily communication tasks, but by virtue of its always-on, always-connected nature, it also reinforces cultures that expect people to be accessible outside normal business hours. Rather than just a tool of liberation for its users, the BlackBerry can also be understood as an artifact that reflects and perpetuates organisational cultures in which individual employees have little control and influence. While this case study focuses on BlackBerry users, it is suggested that the findings are not unique to this device. BlackBerries and other mobile technologies have been envisioned by some as means of enforcing work-life boundaries, but this paper concludes that the use of always-on mobile devices can lead to situations where conflict between work and personal activities is exacerbated rather than reduced.

scholarly journals Illusions of Balance and Control in an Always-On Environment: A Case Study of BlackBerry Users

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Middleton
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
And Control ◽  
Organisational Cultures ◽  
Wireless Mobile

This paper presents a qualitative case study of Canadian BlackBerry® users. It begins with a brief description of the BlackBerry, a handheld wireless mobile email device developed by Research in Motion1 . BlackBerry users find their devices to be empowering, allowing them more control over their environments. The BlackBerry does give its users a mechanism to exert control over the management of daily communication tasks, but by virtue of its always-on, always-connected nature, it also reinforces cultures that expect people to be accessible outside normal business hours. Rather than just a tool of liberation for its users, the BlackBerry can also be understood as an artifact that reflects and perpetuates organisational cultures in which individual employees have little control and influence. While this case study focuses on BlackBerry users, it is suggested that the findings are not unique to this device. BlackBerries and other mobile technologies have been envisioned by some as means of enforcing work-life boundaries, but this paper concludes that the use of always-on mobile devices can lead to situations where conflict between work and personal activities is exacerbated rather than reduced.

scholarly journals Design and Control Issues in Qualitative Case Study Research

2003 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaynor Lloyd-Jones
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Design Theory ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Theory Testing ◽  
Study Research ◽  
And Control ◽  
Dual Case

Some methodologists have pointed to similarities between experimental method and case study research in terms of design, theory testing and development. However, little is known about how these debates inform qualitative research rationales. The use of a sequential dual case study provided an opportunity to examine these issues and their impact on the unfolding research process. The interplay of inductive and deductive approaches was evident throughout in decisions determining the nature of the research enquiry.

Mobile Technologies and Gender Rituals

2014 ◽  
pp. 85-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryll Ruth R. Soriano
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Mobile Device ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Social Order ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Work Family ◽  
Developing Society

This chapter explores the implications of mobile technologies on gender through the lens of gender rituals. While maintaining social order and social roles, rituals also legitimate key category differences, ideologies, and inequalities. The increasing convergence of media and content in mobile devices, and the blurring of the spaces for work, family, and leisure amidst the landscape of globalization and mobility have important implications for the enactment of rituals, and in the performance of gender. The chapter discusses this mutual shaping of gender rituals and mobile technologies through a case study of the Philippines, with some broad implications for other contexts. The study finds that the personalization, mobility, and multitude of applications afforded by mobile devices offer many opportunities for the exploration of new possibilities for subjectivity that challenge particular gender stereotypes and restrictions while simultaneously affirming particular gender rituals. While exploring the implications of the mobile device on gender in a developing society, the chapter in turn highlights the importance of culturally embedded rituals in shaping and understanding the mobile device's place in society.

Managing work-life boundaries with mobile technologies

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karlene Cousins ◽  
Daniel Robey
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Mobile Technology ◽  
Material Properties ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
Core Material ◽  
Boundary Management ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the role that mobile technologies play in mobile workers’ efforts to manage the boundaries between work and non-work domains. Previous theories of work-life boundary management frame boundary management strategies as a range between the segmentation and integration of work-life domains, but fail to provide a satisfactory account of technology’s role. Design/methodology/approach – The authors apply the concept of affordances, defined as the relationship between users’ abilities and features of mobile technology, in two field studies of a total of 25 mobile workers who used a variety of mobile devices and services. Findings – The results demonstrate that the material features of mobile technologies offer five specific affordances that mobile workers use in managing work-life boundaries: mobility, connectedness, interoperability, identifiability and personalization. These affordances persist in their influence across time, despite their connection to different technology features. Originality/value – The author found that mobile workers’ boundary management strategies do not fit comfortably along a linear segmentation-integration continuum. Rather, mobile workers establish a variety of personalized boundary management practices to match their particular situations. The authors speculate that mobile technology has core material properties that endure over time. The authors surmise that these material properties provide opportunities for users to interact with them in a manner to make the five affordances possible. Therefore, in the future, actors interacting with mobile devices to manage their work-life boundaries may experience affordances similar to those the authors observed because of the presence of the core material properties.

Applying Mobile Technologies to Banking Business Processes

2011 ◽  
pp. 778-792
Author(s):  
Dinesh Arunatileka
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Major Part ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
Battery Life ◽  
Screen Size ◽  
Banking Business ◽  
The Impact

This chapter discusses the impact of mobile technologies on service delivery processes in a banking environment. Advances in mobile technologies have opened up numerous possibilities for businesses to expand their reach beyond the traditional Internet-based connectivity and, at the same time, have created unique challenges. Security concerns, as well as hurdles of delivering mobile services “anywhere and anytime” using current mobile devices with their limitations of bandwidth, screen size and battery life are examples of such challenges. Banks are typically affected by these advances as a major part of their business deals with providing services that can benefit immensely by adoption of mobile technologies. As an example case study, this chapter investigates some business processes of a leading Australian bank in the context of application of mobile technologies.

The virtual world, mobile technology and return to the real world

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 01-07
Author(s):  
Rostislav Fojtik
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Information And Communication

Information and communication technologies have established themselves in all areas of human life. We use these technologies for work but also for entertainment. Computers facilitates numerous activities. New technologies also bring new problems. Therefore, educational institutions must respond to this situation. Children use computer devices very often, also to the detriment of their movement. Children also use a lot of mobile devices. There is a tendency to use mobile devices in the classroom and find new teaching methods. According to international research has current way of life negatively affects health, especially children. Children too much time sitting at the computer, stare into its smartphones, watching television for a long time. They move little and they carry little activity outside. The paper describes case study among children. We used questionnaire method and long-term observation. The first questionnaire was completed by 138 students aged 11 to 19 years. Obtained data are processed by statistical methods. For analysis of the results in each item was measured as having detected data variability. We used a coefficient of variation. To interpret the results of the second stage classification was done chi-square test. We've also used a case study. We are within one year we observed 15 boys aged 10 to 17 years. We have focused on observing their physical condition, any manually abilities, use of leisure time. This paper aims to show the possibilities of using information and communication technologies in promoting the healthy development of children. The paper shows practical examples of informatics education. The paper describes examples for education of informatics with physical activity. The findings were obtained in a survey that the detection methods used knowledge case study, questionnaire, observation, interview and pedagogical experiment. Keywords: Mobile technologies; a pedagogical experiment; a questionnaire; an observation; the virtual world

scholarly journals Is Mobile Email Functional or Dysfunctional? Two Perspectives on Mobile Email Usage

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Middleton ◽  
Wendy Cukier
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Convincing Argument ◽  
Functional Perspective ◽  
Usage Patterns ◽  
Organisational Cultures

This paper offers a study of contradiction in the usage of mobile email. Using qualitative data, the paper identifies mobile email usage patterns that are dangerous, distracting, anti-social and that infringe on work-life boundaries. Mobile email users were forthcoming in describing these dysfunctional usage patterns, but they made a convincing argument that their mobile devices are highly functional and allow them to be efficient, to multitask without disruption to others, and to respond immediately to messages, as well as offering them the freedom to work from anywhere. These dual perspectives on mobile email (dys)functionality are explored through a metaphorical lens, showing how organisational cultures can reinforce the functional perspective while simultaneously suppressing the dysfunctional view. It is argued that it is important to understand and explore the dysfunctional perspective of mobile email adoption. The paper concludes with a series of questions that challenge organisations to reflect critically on their assumptions about mobile email usage.

scholarly journals The new paternalism? The workplace as a place to work—and to live

Organization ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 135050842110153
Author(s):  
Aurélie Leclercq-Vandelannoitte
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Discursive Construction ◽  
Critical Perspective ◽  
Work Activities ◽  
Pastoral Power ◽  
New Form ◽  
And Control ◽  
Central Tension

This study aims to better understand the modern evolution of the workplace not only as a place to work but also increasingly as a place to live. Current research largely excludes the instrumental aspects of this blurring of personal and professional spheres at work, as manifested in an intentional dissolution of the boundaries between work and non-work activities. To understand the meaning and implications of these new workplaces, which rely on a central tension between care and control and tend to reinterpret paternalism as an organizing principle, this study develops a conceptual framework derived from Michel Foucault’s concept of pastoral power. This framework helps make sense of a caring mode of power that marks modern organizations. The application of this framework—using a qualitative case study of a French company’s home-like working environment—suggests a processual and constructivist conceptualization of these workplaces as a manifestation of pastoral power, embedded in a broader governmentality strategy. It emphasizes the material and discursive construction of the workplace as a place to live and highlights the emergence of neo-paternalism as a new form of care and control. This critical perspective informs discussion on the implications of this caring mode of control for workers, in a hopeful call to stay alert to modern capitalist intrigues.

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