Corporate smart phones: professionals' conscious engagement in escalating work connectivity. (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cavazotte, Flávia; Heloisa Lemos, Ana; Villadsen, Kaspar
• Is Part Of: New technology, work and employment. Volume 29:Number 1(2014:Mar.)
• Page Start: 72
• Page End: 87
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: Labor supply -- Effect of technological innovations on -- Periodicals; 338.064
• DOI: 10.1111/ntwe.12022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-1072

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>This article explores how the adoption of company sponsored smart phones inflicts upon the lives of professionals. Drawing upon qualitative interviews at a law firm in Brazil, the experiences of new smart phone users are reported upon in detail. Increased accessibility, accuracy and speed in exchanges gave the users a sense of autonomy and flexibility. However, the technology also helped to intensify the organisation's hold on employees outside of regular working hours, reaching into new settings, time slots and social contexts. Employees expressed concerns regarding demands from superiors that negatively affected their private spheres, yet many of them paradoxically requested more efficient smart phone connectivity. The article focuses on the justifications, the different narrative strategies, employed by professionals for their conscious engagement in escalating work connectivity. It is suggested that these justifications display users' attempt to 'dis‐identify' with the role and practice they perform.</p> </abstract>