impact of ict on working practices

impact of ict on working practices

Location & Pattern	Details
Employer premises or at home	ICT has enabled employees to work from home with far greater ease. Many employees are able to access all their work documents and applications from home. They are able to do this via the use of a Private Virtual Network (PVN). This is a secure connection to between the user and the companies computer network.
Allowing personal flexibility	As more and more of our work becomes ICT based it may be possible for us to work when it is convenient for us.
Being static in an office or mobile	Mobiles offices can allow employees to take their office with them. Sales man may need to be connected to the office network when they are in the clients place of work of home.

To work away from the workplace you may need:

A laptop (with access to a word processor, 

spreadsheets, database etc.)

The ability to send and receive e-mails

Mobile phones

Voicemail to receive messages

Fax machine

Pager

Videoconferencing facilities to hold meetings


Advantages of Homeworking
• Less time wasted travelling to and from work 
(especially in rush hour) – leads to increased 
productivity
• Can continue to employ staff who may have left 
because their personal circumstances have changed
• Less stressful for staff
• Less office space needed – saves money
• More flexibility in managing working hours


Disadvantages of Homeworking
• Less supervision – may lead to less work being 
completed
• Cost of buying and maintaining ICT equipment is high
• Difficult to organise staff training
• Can’t organise meetings at short notice
• Employees miss out on social aspects of work

Reference:
1-http://www.graemehigh.com/files/BusEdu/SGAdmin/2a%20ICT%20&%20Working%20Practices.pdf
2-http://www.heles.plymouth.sch.uk/ict/KS5/Y12-Unit02/HTML/WorkingPractices.htm