Broadband and Telework Practices, p 19
practices. At the same time, the findings suggest that broadband can enable fundamental
changes in the institutional nature of work.
An important finding of this study is that the actual work practices of teleworkers change
little, if at all, compared to the practices they would follow if they were "at the office." This is
true whether or not the worker has broadband access. This finding supports out initial critique of
the technological determinism within current scenarios. The nature of work is not driven by the
technology available, but by the norms and expectations of the job position and the organization.
Repeatedly, our respondents emphasized that telework is "just work." They did not perceive
themselves as innovators, nor were they interested in adopting innovative technologies or
innovative practices. Innovation introduces risk of failure and of losing time needed to
accomplish tasks that are necessary for doing their work.
By looking at technology in a larger social context, we are able to see that organizations
are a more important mediator of individuals and their work practices, than is technology. And
organizations are changing. Factors including globalization, advances in information networking
technologies, improved manufacturing efficiencies (e.g., agile manufacturing [DeVor, Graves, &
Mills, 1997]), and a rise in fluid structures such as alliances, have combined to transform
organizational form and structure (Glaister & Buckley, 1996). These changes have significant
impact on the expectations for work practices, increasing pressures for workers to be flexible and
fluid, and decreasing slack and margins for error. Networks and professional contacts will
increase in importance, as knowledge and expertise becomes more distributed and less enduring.
As we see these changes continue, we are likely to see corresponding changes to telework,
including increased demand for accessing and transferring information (likely in multiple
formats), and for creating and maintaining "virtual" relationships. This will still be "just work"
Convention