Era of the Virtual Office by Adeel Qurashi

The Era of the

Virtual OfficeAn investigation into the rise of smartphones and its effects on Baby Boomers, Gen X and

Gen Y

Research investigated how

smartphones have affected people

and businesses

Moreover the investigation analysed how

the three active generations in the

workforce are dealing with the change

Content

Prologue

Objective & Method

Sampling & Quotas

General Findings

Key Findings

Prologue

The Era of the

Virtual Office

Prologue 5

The world has become

“a global village”

Preece, 1994

Prologue 6

1.8 billion People are connected to internet

Internet World Statistics, 2010

Prologue 7

Connectivity in the past only took place behind a desktop computer

However, Laptops & Smartphones have

significantly changed how we connect with others

Prologue 8

Approximately 172 million Smartphones were sold in

2009

Smartphones are expected to form 46% of all mobile handset sales by 2013

Gartner, 2010

Prologue 9

Best, 2007 Gartner, 2010CIA, 2006 Strategy Analytics, 2010 Davies, 2008

Historical sales figures

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 20090

20000000400000006000000080000000

100000000120000000140000000160000000180000000200000000

X million units

Prologue 10

Marketsand Markets, 2010Telecom Redux, 2008

20142007

$ 39 billion

$ 150 billion

Value Smartphone Market

Prologue 11

Growth in Smartphone

usage has impacted how we

conduct our activities

Prologue 12

“The 20th century office is dead”

Genova, 2010

Prologue 13

“Location is becoming less

important to organizations as

work is becoming something

you do, not someplace you go”

Helms and Raiszadeh, 2002

Prologue 14

More companies than everare changing the way they

work

Affected by changing business environment, new technology

and different employee expectations

Prologue 15

Factory WorkersBorn in the 18th century

Extension of the machine

Reward in cash

Evolution of Workers

Office workersBorn in the 20th century

Fixed responsibilities

Reward in cash and incentivesKnowledge workersBorn in the 21st century

Outcome is more important than activities

Reward in cash, incentives, trust and

freedom

New technology and different mentality has enabled people to

no longer occupy a particular space every single day,

Equipped with phones, internet and laptops, people can choose

where and when to work

Duffy, 1997

Prologue 16

Baby BoomersBorn between 1946 – 1964

WorkaholicsDesire quality

Question authority

In person

Feedback is not appreciatedMoney

Title Recognition

Prologue 17

Generational Differences

Work Ethics& Values

Communication

Feedback& Reward

Glass (2008), Hammill (2005), Heffernan (2006), Lamm and Meeks, (2009), Leitschuh (2007) Macky et al (2008); Smola and Sutton (2002)

Generation XBorn between 1965 – 1980

Eliminate the taskWant structure and direction

Sceptical

Direct & Immediate

Regular feedback Freedom is best reward

Prologue 18


Work Ethics& Values

Communication

Feedback& Reward


Generation YBorn between 1981 – 1999

MultitaskingEntrepreneurial

TolerantGoal oriented

Digital

Immediate feedbackMeaningful work

Freedom

Prologue 19


Work Ethics& Values

Communication

Feedback& Reward


Each generation approaches technology differently, based

on their beliefs and attitudes towards life and change

Rosen, 2004

Prologue 20

The question remains how does

the rise of smartphones affect

the technology acceptance

among the three generations

Prologue 21

Aim & Methodology

The Era of the

Virtual Office

Aim

The aim of this research is to

identify the effects of

smartphones on Baby Boomers,

Generation X and Generation Y

in the changing work

environment.

Aim & Methodology 23

MethodologyThe research was conducted using a self

administered on-line questionnaire

The survey took place between August 27th

and September 12th of 2010

Aim & Methodology 24

Sampling & Quota

The Era of the

Virtual Office

Sampling

The study was open to

respondents from all regions

The study focussed on

smartphone users, however data

was collected from non users

Sampling & Quota 26

435 Respondents

Sampling & Quota 27

General findings

The Era of the

Virtual Office

54% Males

General Findings

46% Females

29

General findings

Gen Y Gen X Boomers0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Response per generation

30

Key findings

The Era of the

Virtual Office

Key findings

Owner of Smartphone

Boomers Gen X Gen Y0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Yes No

32

Key findings

Adoption of Smartphone

< one year 1 to 2 years 3 to 5 years 6 to 8 years > 8 years0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Boomers Gen X Gen Y

33

Key findings

Usage of Smartphone

Check e-mail

Web surfing

Calander/Organiser

Voice & Instant messaging

Navigation

Gaming

Word processing

Other

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

Gen Y Gen X Boomers

34

Key findings

Location of using a Smartphone

Home

Work

Travel

Daily commutes

Away from office

Computer is n/a

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Gen Y Gen X Boomers

35

Key findings

Operating cost

Strongly Disagree

Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Boomers Gen X Gen Y

Strongly Disagree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Boomers Gen X Gen Y

Smartphone is essential

do not prevent the use of smartphones

36

Key findings

Smartphones: efficient and organised work tool

Strongly Disagree


0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Boomers Gen X Gen Y

37

Key findings

Use Smartphones outside work

Strongly Disagree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Boomers Gen X Gen Y

38

Key findings

Use Smartphones outside work

Strongly Disagree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Boomers Gen X Gen Y

39

More Information and figuresare available online

Please visit

http://research.adeel.eu

Business

Era of the Virtual Office by Adeel Qurashi