scholarly journals Is Mobile Email Functional or Dysfunctional? Two Perspectives on Mobile Email Usage

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Middleton ◽  
Wendy Cukier
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Convincing Argument ◽  
Functional Perspective ◽  
Usage Patterns ◽  
Organisational Cultures

This paper offers a study of contradiction in the usage of mobile email. Using qualitative data, the paper identifies mobile email usage patterns that are dangerous, distracting, anti-social and that infringe on work-life boundaries. Mobile email users were forthcoming in describing these dysfunctional usage patterns, but they made a convincing argument that their mobile devices are highly functional and allow them to be efficient, to multitask without disruption to others, and to respond immediately to messages, as well as offering them the freedom to work from anywhere. These dual perspectives on mobile email (dys)functionality are explored through a metaphorical lens, showing how organisational cultures can reinforce the functional perspective while simultaneously suppressing the dysfunctional view. It is argued that it is important to understand and explore the dysfunctional perspective of mobile email adoption. The paper concludes with a series of questions that challenge organisations to reflect critically on their assumptions about mobile email usage.

scholarly journals Is Mobile Email Functional or Dysfunctional? Two Perspectives on Mobile Email Usage

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Middleton ◽  
Wendy Cukier
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Convincing Argument ◽  
Functional Perspective ◽  
Usage Patterns ◽  
Organisational Cultures

This paper offers a study of contradiction in the usage of mobile email. Using qualitative data, the paper identifies mobile email usage patterns that are dangerous, distracting, anti-social and that infringe on work-life boundaries. Mobile email users were forthcoming in describing these dysfunctional usage patterns, but they made a convincing argument that their mobile devices are highly functional and allow them to be efficient, to multitask without disruption to others, and to respond immediately to messages, as well as offering them the freedom to work from anywhere. These dual perspectives on mobile email (dys)functionality are explored through a metaphorical lens, showing how organisational cultures can reinforce the functional perspective while simultaneously suppressing the dysfunctional view. It is argued that it is important to understand and explore the dysfunctional perspective of mobile email adoption. The paper concludes with a series of questions that challenge organisations to reflect critically on their assumptions about mobile email usage.

scholarly journals Illusions of Balance and Control in an Always-On Environment: A Case Study of BlackBerry Users

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Middleton
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
And Control ◽  
Organisational Cultures ◽  
Wireless Mobile

This paper presents a qualitative case study of Canadian BlackBerry® users. It begins with a brief description of the BlackBerry, a handheld wireless mobile email device developed by Research in Motion1 . BlackBerry users find their devices to be empowering, allowing them more control over their environments. The BlackBerry does give its users a mechanism to exert control over the management of daily communication tasks, but by virtue of its always-on, always-connected nature, it also reinforces cultures that expect people to be accessible outside normal business hours. Rather than just a tool of liberation for its users, the BlackBerry can also be understood as an artifact that reflects and perpetuates organisational cultures in which individual employees have little control and influence. While this case study focuses on BlackBerry users, it is suggested that the findings are not unique to this device. BlackBerries and other mobile technologies have been envisioned by some as means of enforcing work-life boundaries, but this paper concludes that the use of always-on mobile devices can lead to situations where conflict between work and personal activities is exacerbated rather than reduced.

scholarly journals Illusions of Balance and Control in an Always-On Environment: A Case Study of BlackBerry Users

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Middleton
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
And Control ◽  
Organisational Cultures ◽  
Wireless Mobile

This paper presents a qualitative case study of Canadian BlackBerry® users. It begins with a brief description of the BlackBerry, a handheld wireless mobile email device developed by Research in Motion1 . BlackBerry users find their devices to be empowering, allowing them more control over their environments. The BlackBerry does give its users a mechanism to exert control over the management of daily communication tasks, but by virtue of its always-on, always-connected nature, it also reinforces cultures that expect people to be accessible outside normal business hours. Rather than just a tool of liberation for its users, the BlackBerry can also be understood as an artifact that reflects and perpetuates organisational cultures in which individual employees have little control and influence. While this case study focuses on BlackBerry users, it is suggested that the findings are not unique to this device. BlackBerries and other mobile technologies have been envisioned by some as means of enforcing work-life boundaries, but this paper concludes that the use of always-on mobile devices can lead to situations where conflict between work and personal activities is exacerbated rather than reduced.

scholarly journals Using mobile devices for inpatient rounding and handoffs: an innovative application developed and rapidly adopted by clinicians in a pediatric hospital

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (e1) ◽  
pp. e69-e78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aude Motulsky ◽  
Jenna Wong ◽  
Jean-Pierre Cordeau ◽  
Jorge Pomalaza ◽  
Jeffrey Barkun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Data Entry ◽  
Bring Your Own Device ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Units ◽  
Desktop Computers ◽  
Local Practices ◽  
Usage Patterns ◽  
Personal Mobile Devices

Objective: To describe the usage of a novel application (The FLOW) that allows mobile devices to be used for rounding and handoffs. Materials and Methods: The FLOW provides a view of patient data and the capacity to enter short notes via personal mobile devices. It was deployed using a “bring-your-own-device” model in 4 pilot units. Social network analysis (SNA) was applied to audit trails in order to visualize usage patterns. A questionnaire was used to describe user experience. Results: Overall, 253 health professionals used The FLOW with their personal mobile devices from October 2013 to March 2015. In pediatric and neonatal intensive care units (ICUs), a median of 26–26.5 notes were entered per user per day. Visual network representation of app entries showed that usage patterns were different between the ICUs. In 127 questionnaires (50%), respondents reported using The FLOW most often to enter notes and for handoffs. The FLOW was perceived as having improved patient care by 57% of respondents, compared to usual care. Most respondents (86%) wished to continue using The FLOW. Discussion: This study shows how a handoff and rounding tool was quickly adopted in pediatric and neonatal ICUs in a hospital setting where patient charts were still paper-based. Originally developed as a tool to support informal documentation using smartphones, it was adapted to local practices and expanded to print sign-out documents and import notes within the medicolegal record with desktop computers. Interestingly, even if not supported by the nursing administrative authorities, the level of use for data entry among nurses and doctors was similar in all units, indicating close collaboration in documentation practices in these ICUs.

Mobile Accessibility in Touchscreen Devices

2014 ◽  
pp. 182-202
Author(s):  
Volkan Çalışkan ◽  
Özgürol Öztürk ◽  
Kerem Rızvanoğlu
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Video Recording ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Screen Reader ◽  
Observation Methods ◽  
Mobile Accessibility ◽  
Usage Patterns ◽  
Multi Method Approach

Mobile technology is a new frontier for accessibility. Although mobile developers need solid guidelines to provide accessible experiences, there is a limited number of empirical research on mobile accessibility of different mobile platforms that work through various assistive technologies. In this context, more information is needed to understand both usage patterns and hardware/software platforms to guide decisions to meet the needs of people with disabilities who use mobile devices. This study, which is a pilot study of a long-term research, evaluates the accessibility of selected built-in and third party iOS applications in the iPhone and iPad through an extensive accessibility test with two blind users who are novice users of touchscreen mobile devices. This qualitative study is based on a multi-method approach, which consists of a background questionnaire, task observation, and a structured debriefing interview. The study also employs observation methods of data collection in order to gain better insight in mobile accessibility. The participants are demanded to execute three different tasks on each platform by using VoiceOver, which is the built-in screen reader in iOS. The participants are observed during the task executions and the “think aloud” procedure and video recording of the participants collected additional data. A short debriefing interview was also made to gain a detailed insight into the user experience. The findings reveal significant accessibility problems caused specifically by design of the graphical user interface features of the applications and limitations of the screen reader. Finally, as part of future research directions, preliminary guidelines are proposed to improve accessibility for iOS applications in both platforms.

Mobile and Handheld Security

2010 ◽  
pp. 313-327
Author(s):  
Lei Chen ◽  
Shaoen Wu ◽  
Yiming Ji ◽  
Ming Yang
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Operating Systems ◽  
User Interfaces ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Handheld Devices ◽  
Security Level ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Business Transactions ◽  
Bank Accounts ◽  
Online Bank

Mobile and handheld devices are becoming an integral part of people’s work, life and entertainment. These lightweight pocket-sized devices offer great mobility, acceptable computation power and friendly user interfaces. As people are making business transactions and managing their online bank accounts via handheld devices, they are concerned with the security level that mobile devices and systems provide. In this chapter we will discuss whether these devices, equipped with very limited computation power compared to full-sized computers, can make equivalent security services available to users. We focus on the security designs and technologies of hardware, operating systems and applications for mobile and handheld devices.

Enhancing Construction Processes Using Building Information Modelling on Mobile Devices

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 34-45
Author(s):  
Soussou Nader ◽  
Zeeshan Aziz ◽  
Munir Mustapha
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
Building Information Modelling ◽  
Process Maps ◽  
Information Modelling ◽  
Efficiency And Effectiveness ◽  
Building Information

This paper reviews existing construction processes of a Leading International Engineering Contracting firm in the Middle East and investigates the potential of improving existing processes using mobile Building Information Technology and processes. Qualitative data was captured through detailed interviews with key personnel, site observations and existing site processes that are mapped from site mobilisation to practical completion stage. Industry practitioners whom were involved in the project have validated the to-be process maps. The paper identifies non-adding value activities in the existing processes and highlights the potential of using mobile technologies in addressing limitations of the as-is processes. The paper also highlights the potential of enhancing efficiency and effectiveness of existing processes using readily available technologies.

Does incivility impact the quality of work-life and ethical climate of nurses?

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yariv Itzkovich ◽  
Niva Dolev ◽  
Moran Shnapper-Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Climate ◽  
Ethical Climate ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between incivility and two organizational and personal attitudes, namely, perceived ethical climate and perceived quality of work-life of nurses, in the framework of organizational climate.Design/methodology/approachQuantitative data of 148 nurses working in a medium-sized hospital in Israel were collected. Furthermore, qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 nurses and 14 doctors from the same hospital, constructing a mixed-method approach.FindingsFindings revealed that witnessing or experiencing incivility affected the nurses' perception of the ethical climate of their work unit and their perceived quality of their work-life. Additionally, we found that the relationship between incivility and nurses' perceived quality of work-life was partially mediated through their perceived ethical climate. The qualitative data supported some of the findings.Originality/valueThe article stretches the incivility theory beyond its dyadic boundaries, prominently showing the spillover effect of incivility as an organizational problem. Additionally, it offers some evidence-based support for the multidimensionality of incivility, strengthening the need for a construct cleanup.

Leading in the New Normal

2021 ◽  
pp. 116-146
Author(s):  
Kerri E. Zappala-Piemme ◽  
Maureen E. Squires
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Educational Leaders ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Professional Lives ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
New Normal ◽  
Healthy Work ◽  
Experiences Of Women ◽  
Women Educational Leaders

This chapter focuses on the experiences of women who were P-20 educational leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected via electronic surveys from 20 respondents. Survey questions included information about demographics, professional duties, and personal responsibilities. This chapter includes a discussion of the authors' positionality, analyzes findings (situated in relevant literature), and presents implications for practice and further study. General findings indicate that the personal and professional lives of women educational leaders were significantly affected by the pandemic, with increased demands and limited support in both areas. Related implications include practices that support a healthy work-life balance and address the expectations affecting women educational leaders.

scholarly journals Crowdwork and the mobile underclass: Barriers to participation in India and the United States

2020 ◽  
pp. 146144482090184
Author(s):  
Gemma Newlands ◽  
Christoph Lutz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Labor Market ◽  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
Income Source ◽  
Potential Barriers ◽  
Digital Infrastructure ◽  
Device Use

Online crowdwork platforms have been praised as powerful vehicles for economic development, particularly for workers traditionally excluded from the labor market. However, there has been insufficient scrutiny as to the feasibility of crowdwork as an income-source among socioeconomically deprived populations. This article examines device requirements and differential access to digital infrastructure, both of which act as potential barriers to not only basic participation but also to economic success online. Given the increasing prevalence of mobile-first and mobile-only populations, research on this topic aids in understanding the crowdwork ecosystem among differing socioeconomic sectors. Based on a survey of 606 crowd workers across the United States and India, this article uses both quantitative and qualitative data to explore whether reliance on mobile devices is detrimental for economic outcomes of crowdwork. The results point to substantial inequalities in device use and received benefits from crowdwork, within each country and between the two contexts.

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