The effect of telecommuting on the temporal patterns of managers and employees

Abstract

Rapidly evolving communications technologies, the expanding global scope of business, and changing societal expectations with regard to employment has expanded the prevalence of teleworking as an employment arrangement in recent years. The expansion of teleworking employment arrangements has significant implications on organizations, management, and the teleworkers themselves. Of particular interest are how teleworking has changed temporal patterns associated with work and how these changes have affected interactions between teleworkers and those with whom they work. This thesis explores these issues through interviews with both teleworkers themselves and their colleagues and managers. The areas of inquiry are organized into three primary categories: Impacts on Timing Aspects of Work, Impacts on Temporal Aspects of Professional Interactions, and Impacts on Temporal Patterns of Individuals and Work Groups.