Work to life conflict of communication technologies
Article Summary
Over the last twenty years communication technologies have not only become a part of everyday social life, they are a third arm to an informal virtual office.
In this article (Boswell & Olson-Buchanan, 2007) investigate how the use of communication technologies outside of the normal working hours relates to work attitudes and work-to-life conflict. This article looks at the correlation between the type of individuals that are more likely to allow the work crossover into their personal lives and their usage of communication technologies.
(Boswell & Olson-Buchanan, 2007) seek to validate a number of hypotheses about communication technologies:
1. Use after hours relates positively with (a) affective commitment, (b) job involvement, and (c) ambition. 2. Use after hours relates positively with employee work-to-life conflict. 2b. Use after hours relates positively with employee work-to-life conflict as reported by the employee’s significant other.
The study focused on five typical technologies used by employees to electronically connect to the workplace: mobile phones, email, voicemail, personal data assistants (PDAs) and pagers. The study also focuses on three conceptual elements and possible traits of the individuals using communication technologies out of hours; they were affective commitment, ambition, and job involvement. There are suggestions a person’s attachment and career aspirations to the organisation changes their responses towards working beyond the call of duty.
Method
Non-academic staff employees and a significant other for some employees received a survey packet via the university mail system including a cover letter, the survey and reply envelope. The packet explained the survey process to all participants,
References: Boswell, W. R., & Olson-Buchanan, J. B. (2007). The Use of Communication Technologies After Hours: The Role of Work Attitudes and Work-Life Conflict. Journal of Management, 33(4), 592-610. doi: 10.1177/0149206307302552 Higgins, C., Duxbury, L., & Johnson, K. L. (2000). Part-time work for women: does it really help balance work and family? Human Resource Management, 39(1), 17-32. Matusik, S. F., & Mickel, A. E. (2011). Embracing or embattled by converged mobile devices? Users ' experiences with a contemporary connectivity technology. Human Relations, 64(8), 1001-1030. doi: 10.1177/0018726711405552 Van Den Bergh, R. (2012). http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/6561159/Work- sliding-into-home-life-survey Zuppo, C. M. (2012). Organizations as Consumers of Human Capital Via Technology: A Policy Study of Information And Communication Technologies.