Centre for Enterprise Research and Innovation (CERI)
Home working - the effect on organisations
Date
21 November 2007
Presenter(s)
Bruce Coughtrie, Manager at IBM Hursley
Staff at IBM Hursley regularly work part of their week from home. There is not adequate space for them all on site. Bruce will discuss how this is managed and the implications for:
- Motivation, trust and control, staff responsibility
- Time management and stress, how mobile staff must learn to switch off
- Teamwork, career progression and recruitment impact
- Examples of impact in the public sector
Tony Corbin, Project Manager at Hampshire County Council
Tony leads a research project on the impact of mobile and teleworking in this region. His previous background was in a small company, where all staff were mobile. Tony will discuss:
- Background of the research
- Challenges arising for managers
- Challenges arising for staff
- Examples of impact in the public sector and in small companies
Key Points
Barriers to home working included staff loneliness, staff self discipline, new management skills.
The perception was this may reduce as a new generation is used to socialising on the intenet through chat rooms, blogs etc that companies now provide.
The new management style required included appraisal of managers by their staff, disciplined commitment to time for training, team meetings and recreation, and effective use of technology.
The major benefits were reduced space costs, increased quality of work, increased productivity and increased staff retention especially of women.
The main emerging opportunity was international recruitment. No reason why your receptionist should not be in China!
For those interested in further discussion, you may be interested in joing a group at Cams Hall, Fareham on Tuesday 27th Nov. on use of VOIP. Book online at http://www.ehampshire.org/events.asp?event=184
Screencasts