September 22, 2009
Better Remote Doc Access Would Help Flex Scheduling, Study Finds
By David Sims, TMCnet Contributing Editor
If you suspected that one result of more flexible work schedules is employees working outside of the office more, a recent Harris Interactive (News - Alert) survey found that you're right -- 47 percent are working off-site more often now than they were two years ago.
And if you thought that's a good thing you're, well, more than half right, as 54 percent "concentrate better" when working off-site compared to being in the office. We just need to get that 46 percent back in the office and away from daytime TV, evidently.
The survey also found that in a best-case scenario, a more flexible work arrangement can allow employees to connect better with customers in the field.
The survey, commissioned by Riverbed Technology, found that access becomes an issue in such cases: "Mobile worker productivity is damaged by an inability to efficiently access business files or software remotely." The survey also found that 40 percent say they would work off-site more often if their business files or software would load more quickly.
These days working remotely means not only working from home, although that accounts for 80 percent of all business file or software usage out of the actual office, but from a hotel room, another company office location, a vacation destination -- there's your hard core right there -- the airport, a business conference, a Wi-Fi enabled public space such as a park, and -- eleven percent -- from "a coffee shop."
The numbers for "golf course" were not recorded.
Riverbed (News - Alert) Technology is an IT "infrastructure performance" company selling wide area network optimization products.
The survey collected data was collected from March 27-31 and March 31 to April 2, 2009, via the QuickQuery online omnibus service, among 4,391 adults aged 18 years and older, of whom 910 are employed full-time, normally work on-site, and have ever accessed business files or software stored on their employer's server/network/drives from off-site.
Earlier this month TMC had the news that Riverbed Technology's Johnna Bowley (News - Alert), senior director of global channel and partner marketing, was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in the Channel for the second consecutive year.
And if you thought that's a good thing you're, well, more than half right, as 54 percent "concentrate better" when working off-site compared to being in the office. We just need to get that 46 percent back in the office and away from daytime TV, evidently.
The survey also found that in a best-case scenario, a more flexible work arrangement can allow employees to connect better with customers in the field.
The survey, commissioned by Riverbed Technology, found that access becomes an issue in such cases: "Mobile worker productivity is damaged by an inability to efficiently access business files or software remotely." The survey also found that 40 percent say they would work off-site more often if their business files or software would load more quickly.
These days working remotely means not only working from home, although that accounts for 80 percent of all business file or software usage out of the actual office, but from a hotel room, another company office location, a vacation destination -- there's your hard core right there -- the airport, a business conference, a Wi-Fi enabled public space such as a park, and -- eleven percent -- from "a coffee shop."
The numbers for "golf course" were not recorded.
Riverbed (News - Alert) Technology is an IT "infrastructure performance" company selling wide area network optimization products.
The survey collected data was collected from March 27-31 and March 31 to April 2, 2009, via the QuickQuery online omnibus service, among 4,391 adults aged 18 years and older, of whom 910 are employed full-time, normally work on-site, and have ever accessed business files or software stored on their employer's server/network/drives from off-site.
Earlier this month TMC had the news that Riverbed Technology's Johnna Bowley (News - Alert), senior director of global channel and partner marketing, was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in the Channel for the second consecutive year.
The Top 100 Women in the Channel were chosen based on their achievements as executives and the amount of influence they wield over the technology channel.
David Sims is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of David’s articles, please visit his columnist page. He also blogs for TMCnet here.
Edited by Patrick Barnard
