Navigating the dual role of smartphones in e-work: enhancing productivity while managing distractions

Michal Beno; Dagmar Caganova

doi:10.15549/jeecar.v11i2.1475

Authors

Michal Beno Prague City University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2869-2646
Dagmar Caganova Faculty of Management Comenius University in Bratislava

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15549/jeecar.v11i2.1475

Keywords:

flexibility, mobility, work from home, smartphone, lived experience

Abstract

Technological progress has made smartphones more than just a communication tool. Nowadays, there are ways to work remotely using a smartphone. Digital advancement and COVID-19 were global milestones for the culture of digital transformation and led to more flexibility and mobility in the workplace. This research aims to study the real experience of smartphone workers. Focus is paid to the e-workforce, comprised of jobholders with work flexibility experience who have formed different post-pandemic standards. Six workers led qualitative examinations from Austria to collect unprocessed data for this study. As reported by these results, working from home via a smartphone 'works'. But there are many factors to consider. Notably, smartphones are a vital piece of equipment for respondents in finishing tasks, but while smartphones offer substantial advantages, using them at home for work is not without challenges. These devices can become an unwelcome distraction at the very least and a legal and operational risk at worst. Smartphones increase mobility and flexibility, as well as the flow of workplace communication, but they also cause distractions in the workplace.

Author Biographies

Michal Beno, Prague City University

Dr. Michal Beno is an Associate Lecturer at Prague City University. He holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations, a Master's degree in Public Policy and Public Administration, and a Ph.D. in Business Management. His professional interests, research topics, and international collaborations are mainly focused on developing e-working and e-learning in the future.

Dagmar Caganova, Faculty of Management Comenius University in Bratislava

Prof. Dagmar Caganova, a full professor in Business Economics and Management, acts as Dean's Ambassador for grant activity at the Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. She co-founded the European Alliance for Innovation in Slovakia, is an International Advisory Council member of Danubius University, a management committee member of E-COST TN 1301 Sci Generation, and an executive committee member of Danubius Academic Consortium. Her professional interests are in Intercultural and Innovation Management, Managerial Skills, Communication in Management and Marketing, International Relationships and Diversity, Mobility, and Smart Cities. Her h-index in WoS is 9, and her SCOPUS h-index is 12.

References

Archibald, M. M., Ambagtsheer, R. C., Casey, M. G., & Lawless, M. (2019). Using Zoom Videoconferencing for Qualitative Data Collection: Perceptions and Experiences of Researchers and Participants. International Journal of Qualitative Study, 18, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406919874596 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406919874596

Beňo, M. (2021). The Advantages and Disadvantages of E-Working: An Examination using an ALDINE Analysis. Emerging Science Journal, 5, pp. 11-20. https://doi.org/10.28991/esj-2021-SPER-02 DOI: https://doi.org/10.28991/esj-2021-SPER-02

Beňo, M. (2023). Re-Establish Home and Work Boundaries by Pseudo-Commute Whilst Working from Home. Central European Business Review, 12(4), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.18267/j.cebr.335 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18267/j.cebr.335

Beno, M., & Caganova, D. (2023). Austrian future cubicle: commuting, e-commuting or both? Acta Logistica, 10(1), 135-140. https://doi.org/10.22306/al.v10i1.368 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22306/al.v10i1.368

Beno, M., & Hvorecky, J. (2021). Data on an Austrian Company's Productivity in the Pre-Covid-19 Era, During the Lockdown and After Its Easing: To Work Remotely or Not? Frontiers in Communication, 6(641199), 1-10. https://doi:10.3389/fcomm.2021.641199 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.641199

Beňo, M., Hvorecký, & Cagáňová, D. (2023). Face-to-Display Workforce: Forfeiting Pay Cuts in Favour of Flexibility. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 12(4), 9-16. https://doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2023-0090 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2023-0090

Beno, M., Krzova, J., & Caganova, D. (2023). Czech workers reconsideration of work from home during COVID-19. Journal of Eastern European and Central Asian Research (JEECAR), 10(2), 339-359. https://doi.org/10.15549/jeecar.v10i2.1125 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15549/jeecar.v10i2.1125

Bittner, B., Nagy, A. S., & Ujhelyi, M. (2021). The effects of using mobile and smart devices at work. Issues in Information Systems, 22(1), 227-235. https://doi.org/10.48009/1_iis_2021_227-235 DOI: https://doi.org/10.48009/1_iis_2021_227-235

Cagáňová, D. , Pechanová, Ľ., Horňáková, N. Communication in Multicultural Teams in Industrial Enterprises. 1. vyd. Plzeň : Vydavatelství a nakladatelství Aleš Čeněk, 2019. 121 s. ISBN 978-80-7380-788-7.

Cole, F. (2023). Video: This Cruise Company Will Let You Work Remotely at Sea. The Cost? $30,000 Per Year. https://businesstravelerusa.com/news/video-live-and-work-on-a-cruise-ship-for-30000-year/ (Accessed: 15 July 2023).

Cooper, R., & Baird, M. (2015). Bringing the “right to request” flexible working arrangements to life: from policies to practices. Employee Relations, 37(5), 568-581. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-07-2014-0085 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-07-2014-0085

Dateportal. (2023). Digital around the World. https://datareportal.com/global-digital-overview

DeJonckheere, M., & Vaughn, L. M. (2019). Semistructured interviewing in primary care research: a balance of relationship and rigour. Family Medicine and Community Health, 7(2), e000057. https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2018-000057 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2018-000057

Deloitte. (2023). More and more people are using their smartphones for work. https://www2.deloitte.com/ch/en/pages/technology-media-and-telecommunications/articles/immer-mehr-menschen-arbeiten-auf-dem-smartphone.html (Accessed: 15 July 2023).

Dolan, S. (2023). How mobile users spend their time on their smartphones in 2023. https://www.insiderintelligence.com/insights/mobile-users-smartphone-usage (Accessed: 15 July 2023).

Emergence. (2020). The State of Technology for the Deskless Workforce. https://downloads.ctfassets.net/205crsv5fonu/5zQQmBySyy9uDzVcmzPiyf/f064df1254590971120d19d0dd9cc186/technology-for-the-deskless-workforce-2020.pdf (Accessed: 15 July 2023).

Ghani, B., Zada, M., Memon, K. R., Ullah, R., Khattak, A., Han, H., Ariza-Montes, A., & Araya-Castillo, L. (2022). Challenges and Strategies for Employee Retention in the Hospitality Industry: A Review. Sustainability, 14(5), 2885. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052885 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052885

Gray, L. M., Wong-Wylie, G., Rempel, G. R., & Cook, K. (2020). Expanding Qualitative Research Interviewing Strategies: Zoom Video Communications. The Qualitative Report, 25(5), 1292-1301. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2020.4212 DOI: https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2020.4212

Grobler, P. A., & De Bruyn, A. J. (2011). Flexible Work Practices (FWP) – An effective instrument in the retention of talent: A survey of selected JSE-listed companies. South African Journal of Business Management, 42(4), 63-78. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajbm.v42i4.506 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajbm.v42i4.506

Groen, B. A. C., van Triest S. P., Coers, M., & Wtenweerde, N. (2018). Managing flexible work arrangements: Teleworking and output controls. European Management Journal, 36(6), 727-735. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2018.01.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2018.01.007

Harris, B., Regan, T., Schueler, J., & Fields, S. A. (2020) Problematic Mobile Phone and Smartphone Use Scales: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 11(672), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00672 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00672

ILO. (2022a). World Employment and Social Outlook 2022. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/---publ/documents/publication/wcms_834081.pdf (Accessed: 15 July 2023).

ILO. (2022b). Working Time and Work-Life Balance Around the World. Geneva: International Labour Office, 2022. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/---protrav/---travail/documents/publication/wcms_864222.pdf (Accessed: 15 July 2023).

Kim, J., Henly, J. R., Golden, L. M., & Lambert, S. J. (2019). Workplace Flexibility and Worker Well-Being by Gender. Journal of Marriage and Family, 82(3), 892-910. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12633 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12633

Knott, E., Hamid Rao, A., Summers, K., & Teeger, Ch. (2022). Interviews in the social sciences. Nat Rev Methods Primers 2(73), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43586-022-00150-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43586-022-00150-6

Maxwell, G., Rankine, L., Bell, S., & MacVicar, A. (2007). The incidence and impact of flexible working arrangements in smaller businesses. Employee Relations, 29(2), 138-161. https://doi.org/10.1108/01425450710719987 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/01425450710719987

Miller-Merrell, J. (2012). The workplace engagement economy where HR, social, mobile and tech collide. Employment Relations Today, 39(2), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/ert.21359 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ert.21359

Nair, S. (2021). Does smartphone affect productivity? International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 2(10), 798-805.

Neștian, Ș. A., Tiță, S. M., & Turnea, E-S. Using Mobile Phones at Work in Personal and Professional Information Processes. Sustainability, 12(3):965. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12030965 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12030965

Ongori, H. (2007). A Review of the Literature on Employee Turnover. African Journal of Business Management, 1(3), 49-54. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJBM.9000028

Saha, A. K., & Saha, A. (2018). Smartphone as a Means of Communication & Its Influence upon College Students. Indian Journal of Industrial Relations, 53(4), 560-571. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26536481

Smith, J. A., & Osborn, M. (2003). Interpretative phenomenological analysis. In J. A. Smith (Ed.), Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods (pp. 51–80). Sage Publications, Inc.

Sokolowski, R. (2000). Introduction to phenomenology. London: Cambridge University Press.

Vagle, M. D. (2014). Crafting phenomenological research. Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast Press.

Van Manen, M. (1997). Researching Lived Experience: Human Science for an Action Sensitive Pedagogy. 2nd Edition, Althouse Press, London.

Wike, R., Silver, L., Fetterolf, J., Huang, Ch., Austin, S., Clancy, L., Gubbala, S. (2022). 3. Internet, smartphone and social media use. https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2022/12/06/internet-smartphone-and-social-media-use-in-advanced-economies-2022 (Accessed: 15 July 2023).

Wojnar, D. M., & Swanson, K. M. (2007). Phenomenology as an exploration. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 25, 172-180. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010106295172 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010106295172

Young, J. C. et al. (2018). A methodological guide to using and reporting on interviews in Conservation Science Research. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 9(1), 10-19. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.12828 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.12828