Exploring the Vision of "Anytime, Anywhere" in the Context of Mobile Work

Abstract

This chapter explores the vision of “anytime, anywhere” in the context of mobile work. The exploration is done empirically. Using qualitative research methods, we studied to what extent the work tasks they do are dependent on time and place. We analyzed the data using a 2x2 matrix, with the two axes “time” and “space,” which both have the categories “dependent” and “independent.” One of the four situations is “anytime, any where,” while the other three are dependent on time, place or both. We found instances of work in all four categories. Some traveling seems very difficult to escape, simply because there are places that staff need to visit physically to do their job. For example, to repair a telephone pole, you need to go there. We also found there are timeframes that staff cannot escape. For example, rebooting parts of the telephone network has to be done at night. Lastly, there are work tasks that seem pretty much independent of time and space, e.g., scheduling and rescheduling of activities. Accordingly, the vision of “anytime, anywhere” is not easy to realize in the case of the mobile workers we studied.

Work Practices, Nomadicity and the Mediational Role of Technology

“…Actually, several authors mention that the advent and spread of mobile and networked technologies such as laptops, PDAs, mobile and smart phones and so forth, is one of the foundations to the proliferation of nomadic practices, because it allows for the mobility of the workplace to new locations where necessary resources to conduct the work can be found (Kleinrock 1996(Kleinrock , 2001Perry et al 2001;Wiberg and Ljungberg 2001;Green 2002;Lyytinen and Yoo 2002;Brown and O'Hara 2003;Lilischkis 2003;Kakihara and Sørensen 2004;Demiris and Ioannidis 2005;Su and Mark 2008;Murray-Smith 2009). However, some authors call for caution by pointing to the drawbacks that relying too much on technology can cause (York and Pendharkar 2004;Pica et al 2004).…”

Human–computer interaction issues for mobile computing in a variable work context

“…For instance, mobility takes place within the context of time and space (Wiberg and Ljungberg, 1999). Context changes can vary in frequency, speed, and predictability .…”

“…Since field workers are usually alone most of the day in remote locations, they have issues with staying abreast of ongoing development in other projects as well as their enterprise in general (Wiberg and Ljungberg, 1999). Additionally, knowledge management is key for areas such as field service and ambulatory health care Holtzman, 1999).…”

“…Number of articles Articles Guerlain et al, 1999;Kristoffersen and Ljungberg, 1999;Moray, 1996;Pascoe et al, 2000;Smailagic, 1999;Sugimatsu et al, 1994;Varshney, 1999;Wiberg and Ljungberg, 1999 …”

Support of Smart Work Processes in Context Rich Environments

“…RELATED WORK (Wiberg, 1999) states that "anytime, anywhere" does not necessarily mean "everytime, everywhere". The ideal mobile situation is not to work continually without any stops.…”