This paper examines how some non-managerial/professional workers (mobile service engineers) used ... more This paper examines how some non-managerial/professional workers (mobile service engineers) used mobile phones for work, with a central focus on phone use during working hours. During working hours the engineers not only used their phones as work-related communication tools, but also as a tool to manage the work/non-work boundary. By examining non-managerial workers, and boundary management during work time the paper addresses a significant gap in knowledge. The data presented shows that while the boundary between work and non-work time at the start and end of the working day was clear, and that work demands rarely intruded upon non-work time, the situation with regard to working hours was quite different. Fundamentally, the way the engineers' used their mobile phones during working hours resulted in the work/non-work boundary regularly becoming blurred and unclear. A key reason why the engineers use their phones as a boundary management tool during working hours relates to the character of their work, where the engineers spent much of their working time alone, driving to client sites, and also due to the unpredictable opportunities the engineers had for face-to-face interaction with clients or colleagues.
International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 2008
... on how mobile work is conducted onboard trains, as a way of exploring general issues ... on a... more ... on how mobile work is conducted onboard trains, as a way of exploring general issues ... on a train reflect this modality of being at the same time stationary and yet mobile. Tasks can be characterised by the level of social interdependence (or interaction between people) required ...
Research,on virtual ,working ,has ,highlighted how ,the ,lack of face-to-face interactions in suc... more Research,on virtual ,working ,has ,highlighted how ,the ,lack of face-to-face interactions in such ,contexts ,affects communication ,dynamics ,and ,the ability of workers,to develop ,and ,sustain interpersonal ,relationships. This paper ,applies these ideas to a neglected, but increasingly important category of virtual worker, mobile,teleworkers. These are workers,whose work,activities require them,to be spatially mobile, working between a range of different locations,
Information Science and Knowledge Management, 2007
ABSTRACT This chapter links together a practice based perspective on knowledge with the interests... more ABSTRACT This chapter links together a practice based perspective on knowledge with the interests of the ‘‘virtual working’’ literature on how the technological mediation of communication in such processes affects the nature of the social relationships that exist between workers. For example this literature suggests that it is more difficult to develop and sustain interpersonal trust than when significant opportunities for face-to-face interaction exist. As the practice based perspective on knowledge emphasizes the impact that interpersonal communication has on knowledge processes this represents an interesting context within which to examine the relationship between communication dynamics and knowledge processes. Further, the practice based perspective on knowledge regards processes of knowing as being embedded in, sustained through, and developed via the specific (and typically collective) work activities that people carry out. Thus to research and understand the process of knowing that workers are involved in requires an empirical focus on their work activities (Orlikowski 2002). This chapter therefore examines the knowledge processes and communication dynamics of some virtual workers by paying close attention to their work tasks. The specific type of virtual workers examined are mobile teleworkers, a relatively neglected sub-group in the population of teleworkers/virtual workers. These are workers who require to be spatially mobile to conduct their work, traveling between different sites. The chapter shows how the specific spatial mobility patterns of the workers examined had a significant effect on the communication dynamics of their interactions with co-workers.
Research,on virtual ,working ,has ,highlighted how ,the ,lack of face-to-face interactions in suc... more Research,on virtual ,working ,has ,highlighted how ,the ,lack of face-to-face interactions in such ,contexts ,affects communication ,dynamics ,and ,the ability of workers,to develop ,and ,sustain interpersonal ,relationships. This paper ,applies these ideas to a neglected, but increasingly important category of virtual worker, mobile,teleworkers. These are workers,whose work,activities require them,to be spatially mobile, working between a range of different locations,
Routledge Studies in Innovation, Organizations and Technology, 2008
... of non-space 15 JOHN HOLM AND GAVIN KENDALL 3 Working on the move: the social and digital eco... more ... of non-space 15 JOHN HOLM AND GAVIN KENDALL 3 Working on the move: the social and digital ecologies of mobile work places 28 LAURA FORLANO 4 Voluntary ghettos and mobile bureaucracy: civic activity and acts of citizenship under threat 43 TOMMY JENSEN PART ...
Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 2012
ABSTRACT There is currently only limited understanding of the driving-related phone use patterns ... more ABSTRACT There is currently only limited understanding of the driving-related phone use patterns of business travellers. This paper addresses this gap in knowledge by presenting the findings of a UK-based study on the extent to which, and ways in which, people on work-related journeys use mobile phones while driving. A sample of 149 UK drivers who used a particular motorway service station were surveyed, with follow up interviews being conducted with 15 survey respondents. It was found that such drivers made frequent and extensive use of mobile phones, with over 50% of survey respondents being categorized as ‘serial users’ of mobile phones while driving. Survey analysis also found that male drivers were significantly more likely than female drivers to be serial users. The interviews that were conducted highlighted the complexity of the decision making process drivers typically undertook in deciding whether and how to use their phones, which took account of factors such as the nature of road conditions and the type of call to be made or taken.
ABSTRACT This paper examines the role played by client firms in shaping their consultancy relatio... more ABSTRACT This paper examines the role played by client firms in shaping their consultancy relations during the implementation of similar technological innovations in four organisations. While much of the literature on consultants underplays the role of clients, this paper shows that client firms can play a key role in shaping their consultancy relations. The paper utilises Granovetter’s concept of embeddedness to suggest that the diversity of client behaviour found, was influenced by the social networks and organisational cultures that client staff were embedded within. Further, the character of the consultancy relations developed also influenced the innovation processes examined.
This paper examines how some non-managerial/professional workers (mobile service engineers) used ... more This paper examines how some non-managerial/professional workers (mobile service engineers) used mobile phones for work, with a central focus on phone use during working hours. During working hours the engineers not only used their phones as work-related communication tools, but also as a tool to manage the work/non-work boundary. By examining non-managerial workers, and boundary management during work time the paper addresses a significant gap in knowledge. The data presented shows that while the boundary between work and non-work time at the start and end of the working day was clear, and that work demands rarely intruded upon non-work time, the situation with regard to working hours was quite different. Fundamentally, the way the engineers' used their mobile phones during working hours resulted in the work/non-work boundary regularly becoming blurred and unclear. A key reason why the engineers use their phones as a boundary management tool during working hours relates to the character of their work, where the engineers spent much of their working time alone, driving to client sites, and also due to the unpredictable opportunities the engineers had for face-to-face interaction with clients or colleagues.
International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 2008
... on how mobile work is conducted onboard trains, as a way of exploring general issues ... on a... more ... on how mobile work is conducted onboard trains, as a way of exploring general issues ... on a train reflect this modality of being at the same time stationary and yet mobile. Tasks can be characterised by the level of social interdependence (or interaction between people) required ...
Research,on virtual ,working ,has ,highlighted how ,the ,lack of face-to-face interactions in suc... more Research,on virtual ,working ,has ,highlighted how ,the ,lack of face-to-face interactions in such ,contexts ,affects communication ,dynamics ,and ,the ability of workers,to develop ,and ,sustain interpersonal ,relationships. This paper ,applies these ideas to a neglected, but increasingly important category of virtual worker, mobile,teleworkers. These are workers,whose work,activities require them,to be spatially mobile, working between a range of different locations,
Information Science and Knowledge Management, 2007
ABSTRACT This chapter links together a practice based perspective on knowledge with the interests... more ABSTRACT This chapter links together a practice based perspective on knowledge with the interests of the ‘‘virtual working’’ literature on how the technological mediation of communication in such processes affects the nature of the social relationships that exist between workers. For example this literature suggests that it is more difficult to develop and sustain interpersonal trust than when significant opportunities for face-to-face interaction exist. As the practice based perspective on knowledge emphasizes the impact that interpersonal communication has on knowledge processes this represents an interesting context within which to examine the relationship between communication dynamics and knowledge processes. Further, the practice based perspective on knowledge regards processes of knowing as being embedded in, sustained through, and developed via the specific (and typically collective) work activities that people carry out. Thus to research and understand the process of knowing that workers are involved in requires an empirical focus on their work activities (Orlikowski 2002). This chapter therefore examines the knowledge processes and communication dynamics of some virtual workers by paying close attention to their work tasks. The specific type of virtual workers examined are mobile teleworkers, a relatively neglected sub-group in the population of teleworkers/virtual workers. These are workers who require to be spatially mobile to conduct their work, traveling between different sites. The chapter shows how the specific spatial mobility patterns of the workers examined had a significant effect on the communication dynamics of their interactions with co-workers.
Research,on virtual ,working ,has ,highlighted how ,the ,lack of face-to-face interactions in suc... more Research,on virtual ,working ,has ,highlighted how ,the ,lack of face-to-face interactions in such ,contexts ,affects communication ,dynamics ,and ,the ability of workers,to develop ,and ,sustain interpersonal ,relationships. This paper ,applies these ideas to a neglected, but increasingly important category of virtual worker, mobile,teleworkers. These are workers,whose work,activities require them,to be spatially mobile, working between a range of different locations,
Routledge Studies in Innovation, Organizations and Technology, 2008
... of non-space 15 JOHN HOLM AND GAVIN KENDALL 3 Working on the move: the social and digital eco... more ... of non-space 15 JOHN HOLM AND GAVIN KENDALL 3 Working on the move: the social and digital ecologies of mobile work places 28 LAURA FORLANO 4 Voluntary ghettos and mobile bureaucracy: civic activity and acts of citizenship under threat 43 TOMMY JENSEN PART ...
Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 2012
ABSTRACT There is currently only limited understanding of the driving-related phone use patterns ... more ABSTRACT There is currently only limited understanding of the driving-related phone use patterns of business travellers. This paper addresses this gap in knowledge by presenting the findings of a UK-based study on the extent to which, and ways in which, people on work-related journeys use mobile phones while driving. A sample of 149 UK drivers who used a particular motorway service station were surveyed, with follow up interviews being conducted with 15 survey respondents. It was found that such drivers made frequent and extensive use of mobile phones, with over 50% of survey respondents being categorized as ‘serial users’ of mobile phones while driving. Survey analysis also found that male drivers were significantly more likely than female drivers to be serial users. The interviews that were conducted highlighted the complexity of the decision making process drivers typically undertook in deciding whether and how to use their phones, which took account of factors such as the nature of road conditions and the type of call to be made or taken.
ABSTRACT This paper examines the role played by client firms in shaping their consultancy relatio... more ABSTRACT This paper examines the role played by client firms in shaping their consultancy relations during the implementation of similar technological innovations in four organisations. While much of the literature on consultants underplays the role of clients, this paper shows that client firms can play a key role in shaping their consultancy relations. The paper utilises Granovetter’s concept of embeddedness to suggest that the diversity of client behaviour found, was influenced by the social networks and organisational cultures that client staff were embedded within. Further, the character of the consultancy relations developed also influenced the innovation processes examined.
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Papers by Donald Hislop