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journal article Jul 01, 2016

Telework paradoxes and practices: the importance of the nature of work

Sebastian K. Boell Dubravka Cecez‐Kecmanovic John Campbell
New Technology, Work and Employment Vol. 31 No. 2 pp. 114-131 · Wiley
View at Publisher Save 10.1111/ntwe.12063
Abstract
Research on telework often focuses on the outcomes of telework, investigating if telework is ultimately a ‘good’ or a ‘bad’ thing for teleworkers and their organisations. However, findings across telework research studies are often inconclusive, requiring deeper engagement with potential explanations for contradictory and paradoxical results. This study uses virtual ethnography (netnography) to investigate naturally occurring data. By analysing online debates related to Yahoo!'s decision to ban telework for its employees, this study surfaces aspects currently overlooked by telework research. These findings suggest that the diversity of the nature of work undertaken by knowledge workers and perceived differences in the suitability of different tasks for telework are of critical importance for understanding telework from a practice perspective. However, deeper engagement with the different kinds of work activities of knowledge workers is currently missing in the telework research literature. This study therefore contributes to better understanding of telework and paradoxical findings in telework research.
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Metrics
173
Citations
60
References
Details
Published
Jul 01, 2016
Vol/Issue
31(2)
Pages
114-131
License
View
Authors
S
Sebastian K. Boell
D
Dubravka Cecez‐Kecmanovic
J
John Campbell
Funding
Australian Research Council Award: DP120104521
Cite This Article
Sebastian K. Boell, Dubravka Cecez‐Kecmanovic, John Campbell (2016). Telework paradoxes and practices: the importance of the nature of work. New Technology, Work and Employment, 31(2), 114-131. https://doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12063
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