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An Exploratory Study on Perception and Changes due to Smartwork: Focusing on Experience of Smartwork Participants
Journal of Lifelong Learning Society
Abbr :
JLLS
2011, 7(3), pp.79-107
Publisher : Institute of Distance Education
Research Area : Education
2011, 7(3), pp.79-107
Publisher : Institute of Distance Education
Research Area : Education
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The purpose of this study is to examine changes due to smartwork and perception of smartwork through narratives of smartwork participants. Smartwork is an alternative way of working that allows employees to work anywhere and anytime with flexibility through network connection. Smartwork has benefits of cost reduction, productivity raise, balance between work and life, realization of Green IT, and more employment opportunities for women and the old. This study investigates what kinds of changes smartwork systems brought to personal and working environment. Furthermore, perception about increased workload due to smartwork and unique features of jobs carried out during smartwork were discussed. Those who currently participate in smartwork joined the study to share their experience of smartwork in terms of changes in parenting, time management and environment, differences in perception about smartwork between self and others, and unique features of smartwork regarding task types and communication. Results show that smartwork participants feel relaxed due to decrease in childrearing costs and commuting time, and increase in time with children. Improved working environment enables them to engage in tasks and get more time for personal development. As for perception of smartwork, face-to-face communication is valued more than communication used in smartwork. Participants also experienced difficulty in communication due to lack of instant feedback and absence of nonverbal communication. Also, smartwork played a positive role in carrying out tasks that do not require intentive communication and collaboration. Overall, smartwork participants feel satisfied with time saving as they spend less time in commuting and more time at home, but uncomfortable with negative perception due to conflicts between the smartwork environment and the existing office environment. Thus, for smartwort to become an alternative work style, thoughtful observation and further research as well as changes in perception of smartwork is needed. There should be a change in perception that smartwork is not a vacation or a system only for women, but another type of working that can achieve productivity raise by working effective and efficient in anytime and anywhere.
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