Does Flexibility in Time and Location of Work Change Work Behavior and Affect Business Outcomes’

Purpose The research problem of, “Does Flexibility in Time and Location of Work Change Work Behavior and Affect Business Outcomes’ is very clearly stated and very lucid. With the introduction of new ways of working as the author puts it, the intention of the researcher using tools that would enable the research problem to be understood very clearly is used here.It is very categorically stated that there has been a transformation which has been referred to as ‘the New Ways of Working’(NWW) and consist of changes that take place at four aspects:1) the physical workspace, 2) (ICT)technology, 3) organization & management and 4)work culture. The physical workspaces refers to NWW measures that increasing the flexibility where and when to work by introducing flexible work hours, telework and creating flexible workplaces at the office that better suits the work task.Literature Review The literature review was part of the introduction and very aptly referenced .There was no literature review as such in the study and there was work which was cited and referenced. This research and study was just a study undertaken by the author in a typical work case scenario. Hence the literature cited with references were very logically and originally balanced and ordered. Every review done has been analyzed critically. Almost all the review done is of recent origin proving the fact that the new ways of working is of recent origin in management. Objectives/hypotheses The research hypothesis has been identified very clearly. It is also stated in very clear terms as the effect of change in work time and location affect business outcomes and change the behavior at work. Every review done in the introductory paragraph is consistent with the research hypothesis so stated.

Ethical Standards Applied The 73 participants who took part in the research study were moved to the new environment. Hence they were fully aware of the research and were informed and agreed to the research purpose. The confidentiality of the questionnaire answers and their subjectivity was assured and the participants were protected from all kinds of harm that could have arisen with the new working conditions and new environment. High standards ethics was applied to the research subjects.

Operational Definitions The keywords and the clear concepts in relating the variables study to the research concepts was clearly defined the new words and key terms were new ways of working, task facilitating office, knowledge worker, work behavior, business objectives and many more and every one of these words were used clearly to facilitate the research .

Methodology

The research design has been clearly defined in terms of an internet based questionnaire on new methods of working and work@task. The data gathering method was succinctly stated as being a descriptive statistics type. The data gathering instrument was internet and web based. It was also used on short message services which employees had to respond to immediately .It was developed in house on the employees. A pilot study was undertaken in the office premises and reliability and validity testing was done on the questionnaire answers to narrow down on deviations.Data Analysis/Results Statistical analysis was conducted on the descriptive type of sampling methods. Within subject t-test analysis (p<0.05) was used on the questionnaire data of participants that participated in both

the M1 and M2 questionnaire only, in order to detect significant effects of NWW on collaboration, employees’ satisfaction and knowledge sharing. It was quite appropriate as the study was confined to the employees of one organization only. Out of 73 people chosen 39 responded to both the questionnaires. It was found that the results of this study showed that the participants were aware of the increased possibility to work at different locations, and they experienced an increase in availability of ICT facilities and better remote access to business networks. There was a positive outcome of the new ways of working.

Discussion The findings of the research and study were linked directly to the reviewed literature .The hypothesis was not directly initiated though there was a generic hypothesis. The strengths and weaknesses of conducting this research was discussed initially especially with employees refusing to participate in the work@task methods. A pointed reference to future research n this topic was made as only two out of the focus areas were studied .In order to make this research holistic the other two areas also had to undergo a research methodology.

References

The articles and other resources were very well referenced. One could go back to look at the references in a very clear method. The numerical method of referencing made it all the more easy.Conclusion

The article is a very well researched one with findings very appropriate to the study and purpose. New ways of working is a new concept in management and if employees were shifted to new ways of working, it could increase the productivity reducing the hassles of the work environment.

References:

New ways of working: does flexibility in time and location of work change work

behavior and affect business outcomes? Merle M. Bloka,*, Liesbeth Groenesteijna,b, Roos Schelvisa and Peter Vinka,b a, TNO, P.O. Box 718, 2130 AS Hoofddorp, The Netherlands.

b Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Landbergstraat 15, 2628 CE Delft,The Netherland