Telecommuting A Supervisory Perspective Essay Research Paper

Telecommuting A Supervisory Perspective Essay, Research Paper Communications and Telecommuting, a Supervisory Perspective Given the recent advances in Technology and the changes this brought to business communications, revolutionary impacts on the traditional workplace are predictable. The modern workplace is truly global in its realm. It is imperative that an organization integrates communication systems that are international in scope. The basic premise remains clear, concise and goal oriented communication. However, today?s supervisors and organizations must come to terms with the use of these new systems. With the advent of new digital telecommunication systems and networks, it is inevitable that these advances should integrate into business. The new trend is toward a

?virtual workspace,? that is telecommuting or ?telework,? as referred to in Europe. A new telecommunication industry has materialized. Known as Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce) this discipline promotes the study and regulation of the industry. Telecommuting is becoming a norm. Alan Cummings stated in this months Vision magazine, ?Small, disparate groups of entrepreneurs now dominate a dynamic, business-oriented culture in which qualifications matter greatly; social status, age, and gender count for little; and actual performance is everything. Most professionals use more productively the time and money they once spent commuting, and many people arrange their working lives around their social needs. The multi-skilled, flexible worker can be of any age; it is common for

octogenarians to work to supplement their retirement income or savings. Because professionals work online from home, mobility is a bygone concern and commuter traffic jams are almost unknown.? To paraphrase Cummings: ?Technophobics? will relegate to the level of unskilled labor. These will emerge as an alienated labor force, stuck in ?neo-dead-end? jobs. This new ?technocracy? brings new inequalities and caste systems, new ?good old boy networks.? The disabled, will lose a disadvantage. The technically incapable will gain a disadvantage. For the supervisor and the manager, there are several new communications issues to address. Many positions are ideal for the telecommuter. Cyberworkers, a French based trade association, lists these fields as the tried and true ?teleworking?

careers: Communication Multimedia Creation Training Human Resources Financial Management Art & Culture Audio-visual Graphics Data processing Internet Journalism Legal, Paralegal Marketing Information Technology Transcriptionist Translation Specialist Telephone Solicitor Collector Today, via telecommuting, it is entirely probable that the complete career relationship could occur with no more personal contact than a fax or e-mail. Virtually every workspace provides not only a telephone, also voicemail and/or messaging. Most offices have an array of digital devices, such as personal computers, scanners, printers, facsimile systems, and modems. In addition, the workspace has grown wheels and gone mobile. To function, many of us must carry a beeper, cellular phone, even a laptop

or palmtop computer. ?There will be no excuse for the technology deficient.? Telecommuting is growing in popularity. The American Telecommuting Association states on their web page ?telecommuting is second only to “casual days” as the fastest-growing shift in traditional working patterns, and it’s far more helpful than wearing sneakers and tee-shirts for accomplishing more work in less time.? The ATA further States, these advantages: ?One of the most pleasant surprises about telecommuting is that it’s a win-win-win situation for the individual telecommuter, the employer, and society as a whole. 1. The individual benefits from telecommuting because he or she immediately eliminates the time, trouble, and expense of physically commuting to work. This gives the average person