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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
020
4060
80100
120140
160
Em
ail
Voi
cem
ail
Inte
rnet PC
Cel
lP
hone
PD
A
Pag
er
Tools Used
What could I give up?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60N
othi
ng
Cel
lP
hone IM
Voi
cem
ail
PD
A
Pag
er
Inte
rnet
Em
ail
Tools Used
I spend more time working today (both at my workplace and offsite) than I did five
years ago.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
# R
espo
nden
ts
Stro
ngA
gree
Agr
ee
Nei
ther
Dis
agre
e
Stro
ngD
isag
ree
Responses
21-3031-4041-5051-6061+
Age
I have more leisure/free time available than I did five years ago.
01020304050607080
# R
espo
nden
ts
Stro
ngA
gree
Agr
ee
Nei
ther
Dis
agre
e
Stro
ngD
isag
ree
Responses
21-3031-4041-5051-6061+
Age
I currently have an acceptable work-life balance.
0
20
40
60
80
100
# R
espo
nden
ts
Stro
ngA
gree
Agr
ee
Nei
ther
Dis
agre
e
Stro
ngD
isag
ree
Responses
21-3031-4041-5051-6061+
Age
In general, technology has increased the pace of my life
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
# R
espo
nden
ts
Stro
ngA
gree
Agr
ee
Nei
ther
Dis
agre
e
Stro
ngD
isag
ree
Responses
21-3031-4041-5051-6061+
Age
I complete some personal tasks on work time.
010
20
30
4050
60
70
80
90100
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
10
20
30
40
50
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?
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