The Mobile Internet: Changing the Way We Work – Part 1

Posted on 8th November 2016

Welcome to the Business Empathy Forum and thank you for your visit. In this post I would like to begin exploring the practical changes that information and communications technology (ICT) is bringing into businesses and other organizations.

Practical Consequences of ICT, Part 1

The convergence of IT and telecommunications offers businesses opportunities to improve productivity by organizing and managing their operations more efficiently. ICT synergies also offer opportunities to expand current operations and develop brand-new ideas with fast-growing, high-value companies. The spread of the mobile Internet will continue to reduce costs and make knowledge increasingly accessible, leading to more innovation and economic dynamism. We turn now to some of the specific benefits, efficiencies, savings, and strategic opportunities that ICT can provide to a business or individual.
 
Working Remotely
One of the key benefits of ICT and the mobile Internet is the range of possibilities they open for working away from the traditional workplace. A key development here has been the growth of cloud computing, which allows employees to work nearly anywhere they can find network coverage. Leveraging smart phones, personal computers, and other forms of virtual communication, workers can very often perform at home or on the move as well as at the office. This opens up interesting opportunities in terms of lifestyle
Another term often used in this area is “telecommuting,” whose flexibility may offer several advantages to the company and individuals concerned, including improved employee morale for those able to work from home, higher productivity at home as opposed to the office due to fewer interruptions, higher retention of valued employees thanks to greater scheduling flexibility, and cost savings on items such as office space.

Decentralized Decisions
Another benefit of ICT convergence is the possibility of greater and more effective decentralization of decision making within large and small organizations. The speed and increasing mobility offered by innovations in ICT make decentralization even faster and more flexible. For example, delegating certain decision-making powers and responsibilities for daily operations at the multinational level can allow local subsidiaries operating in various countries to cater more carefully to the specific needs and tastes of those markets. For large firms as well as for small and medium-sized enterprises, decentralization can help to empower employees, facilitate expansion into new markets, streamline decision-making and reduce bureaucratic delays, and allow top management to focus more on strategic rather than operational issues.

In my next post I will explore several more workplace benefits of ICT and the mobile Interest.

Good luck, and until next time…