Communications Technology:Slave or Master?

Kristen BedardUniversity of St.Thomas

December 17, 2002

Predictions

• 1950s - Social scientists told us the

Great Leisure Age was approaching.

• 1967 - Senate Subcommittee testimony

predicted the coming of:

– 22-hour workweeks or 27 weeks per year.

– Retirement by age 38

Reality

• We now work an average of 47 hours

per week.

• Our leisure time has declined.

Prediction Reality

Technology would free usfrom long working hours.

Technology contributes tolonger working hours.

The Great Leisure Societywas approaching.

Half of Americans have lessthan 2 hours of leisure timeper day, and one-third haveless than one hour.

Increased productivity Increased productivity

What the Literature Says

• Americans’ working hours have been increasing steadily since the 1960s.

• Leisure time has diminished.• We are a “hurry-up” society.• Self-worth and self-esteem are measured by

career status.• We are “Technostressed” - overwhelmed by

technology.

What the Literature Says

• Predictions were optimistic.– Technological wonder– Economic conditions– Exaggerated market forecasts for products;

vested interest by manufacturers– They ignored the human factor

• Many predictions came true, but with unforeseen circumstances.

Has technology negatively impacted the lives of

communications professionals?

Methodology

• 300 communications professionals were surveyed.– Int’l Association of Business Communicators– Public Relations Society of America

• The survey consisted of 23 questions.

• 160 surveys were returned for a 53% response rate.

Respondent Profile

• Age 31-40• 68% female• 49% have college

degree• 36% have advanced

degree

• 44% have HHI over $100K

• 43% married with children

• 31% manager or supervisor level

Technology Usage

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Tools Used

What could I give up?

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Tools Used

I spend more time working today (both at my workplace and offsite) than I did five

years ago.

0

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# R

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Responses

21-3031-4041-5051-6061+

Age

I have more leisure/free time available than I did five years ago.

01020304050607080

# R

espo

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Stro

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gree

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Responses

21-3031-4041-5051-6061+

Age

I currently have an acceptable work-life balance.

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100

# R

espo

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Stro

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gree

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Responses

21-3031-4041-5051-6061+

Age

In general, technology has increased the pace of my life

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# R

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Responses

21-3031-4041-5051-6061+

Age

I complete some personal tasks on work time.

010

20

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4050

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Always Often Sometimes Never

Responses

Communications technologies make me feel I’m “on call” for my employer almost all the time,

including non-working hours.

0

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20

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60

70

StronglyAgree

Agree Neither Disagree StronglyDisagree

Responses

Productivity

• 95% agree that technology increases their productivity at work.

• 76% agree that technology increases their productivity at home.

Survey Indicates...

• Negative aspects of technology:– Increased working hours and less leisure time– Increased pace of life– On-call around the clock– Completing personal tasks at work

Survey Indicates...

• Positive aspects of technology:– Increased productivity – Flexibility– Acceptable work-life balance

Technology Paradoxes

• We have a love/hate relationship with personal communications technology.

• Technology increases productivity, but causes us to take on even more work.

• We can get things done faster, but still not fast enough.

Have we let technology manage us?

Questions?