Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
This presentation looks at the impact of technology on our work-life balance including the nature of work today and how mobile the work-liesure boundaries have become. It discusses the different technology types, the generation divide and how we can use technology for positive impact. It raises some poignant questions and gives a hint about a possible future trend from employers before exhorting readers to take charge of their lives. Enjoy
Citation preview
ì UTB 601
TechnoVision
TECHNOLOGY AND THE WORK-‐LIFE BALANCE
Anne Bardoel Associate Professor at Monash University hDp://theconversaHon.com/tool-‐or-‐Hme-‐thief-‐technology-‐and-‐the-‐work-‐life-‐balance-‐8165
Content
1. “The Future” then…
2. Work today…
3. Mobile boundaries…
4. Technology types…
5. GeneraBon divide…
5. PosiBve impact…
6. Some quesBons…
7. Future trend…
8. BoLom line…
“The Future” then….
As a child, I can remember watching The Jetsons, a cartoon series about a futurisBc family who had all manner of technological appliances to help around the house.
In the 60s and 70s there was a belief that technology would reverse the work-‐to-‐leisure raBon and we would be able to spend less Bme working because there would be less work to do.
Like the Jetsons, in the future we would be free to focus our aLenBon on other aspects of our lives.
But has this happened?
Work Today…
Today, no sector of the economy is immune from the influence of technology.
How many of us work at home in the evenings and on weekends? Have a mobile phone which we use for work? Check our email messages at home or work regularly with other people in other Bme zones?
There is no doubt that technology has changed the way we work and provides challenges for work-‐life balance.
Mobile boundaries…
On the football field, the boundary marks the edge of the field. Inside the boundary, the ball is in play; beyond the boundary it is out of play.
Electronic tools such as email, chat, smartphones, laptops and tablets have increased our ability to work from home and outside of regular hours creaBng the expectaBons of being available anyBme, anywhere.
This expansion of the workplace boundary line has encroached on our personal lives, further complicaBng our work-‐life balance struggle.
Technology types…
There are two main types of technology users:
1. Technology slaves -‐ people with high expectaBons and workloads who need to work long hours and be accessible 24/7 to advance in their organisaBon (addicted to work)
2. Technology masters -‐ moderate users of technology who use it as a tool for both personal and work life and thereby increase their ability to manage their Bme and increase control of their lives.
Generation divide…
The current generaBon of young Nigerians have never known a world without constant access to mobile phones, the internet and email.
The internet and new technology devices are so commonplace that the youth take them for granted. They use the internet to communicate with their friends and peers and gather informaBon about issues in the broader environment.
Technology is an extension of their social lives. They are also used to receiving and sending informaBon instantly while mulB-‐tasking with technology.
Positive impact…
With recent increases in technology and social media use, more and more employees will be using social media and the internet at work.
Interes>ngly people have reported their internet use had a posi>ve impact on their ability to balance their home and work lives…
Employees who use the internet for work purposes at home are doing so on their own terms resul>ng in a percep>on of having more control and flexibility.
Some questions…
Will the increasing use of technology lead to a posiBve work environment of quick thinking mulB-‐taskers who use the internet as an external brain?
Or will it lead to a negaBve work environment where the need for instant graBficaBon outweighs the ability for thougheul reflecBon and deep thinking?
Are we heading towards a world of excessive technology addicBon, where we can’t detach from work during non-‐work hours, which leads to negaBve repercussions for work-‐life balance?
Or can we take control of the technology and use it as a tool to help, rather than something to respond to.
Future trend…
Some employers are recognising that there are advantages in terms of producBvity and creaBvity to legng people switch off from work.
For example, Volkswagen (Germany) deacBvates emails during non-‐work hours and employees can only receive email a half hour before and a half hour ajer the work day.
Bottom line…
We are a key point in Bme in making sure technology does not become our master.
Say NO and take control of technology.
Educate your clients, customers, colleagues and managers that a fast (technology enabled) answer isn’t always the best answer!
