The paper investigates the emerging smart working paradigm, by bridging a philosophical and managerial perspective. In detail, it discusses specific features of what constitutes a post-Fordism form of organizing work and the broader consequences of its adoption for the daily life of individuals. The rapid diffusion of smart working, boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic, is here considered as an experimental field of the spatial-temporal transformations produced by widespread computerization. Through reshaping our social environment, these processes urge to re-define also our roles and functions. Notwithstanding the many organizational advantages deriving from smart working adoption, the article puts on the foreground some critical aspects inherent to it. In detail, it highlights how this new organizational practice challenges professional identities. Identities are also nurtured by physical interactions within institutional places of relations. In the article, key philosophical concepts along with sociological and anthropological speculations form the theoretical basis that guides the interpretation of empirical management research on the topic. This research shows that as smart workers are deprived from institutional workplaces, they witness a number of tensions that can be dangerous for their work-life balance. In the new context, in particular, they strongly feel the need to assert their identity by exaggerating the level of connectivity. To them, a state of perpetual connectivity is needed for their status to be recognized. However, it also creates behavioural traps. Detrimental outcomes can be produced for individuals and their organizations. Such dynamics urge a responsible approach to technology use that is inspired by criteria of measurement, sustainability and reasonableness. In this direction, the concepts of "necessary connectivity" and "digital well-being" are particularly valuable.
Quest'articolo indaga lo smart working in una doppia prospettiva filosofica e manageriale illustrandone sia le peculiarità distinte (quelle tipiche dell'organizzazione post-fordista del lavoro), sia le ripercussioni su una più vasta sfera che riguarda la quotidianità degli individui. La progressiva affermazione dello smart working, accelerata dall'emergenza COVID-19, è presentata come laboratorio delle trasformazioni spazio-temporali prodotte dai processi di informatizzazione diffusa. Processi che, rimodellando il nostro ambiente sociale, inducono a ridefinire anche i nostri ruoli e funzioni. Senza negare che l'adozione dello smart working apporti indiscutibili vantaggi organizzativi, l'articolo illumina anche i suoi gli aspetti critici. In particolare si evidenzia come questa nuova prassi ponga in discussione le identità lavorative. Identità che si alimentano anche di contatti fisici all'interno di luoghi di relazione istituzionali. Nell'articolo alcuni concetti filosofici di base, uniti a speculazioni di indirizzo socio-antropologico, costituiscono un corpus teorico di riferimento per interpretare le evidenze empiriche della ricerca manageriale. Quest'ultima mostra come gli smart worker, privati dei luoghi istituzionali di lavoro, siano colti da specifiche apprensioni che possono destabilizzare il loro work-life balance. Tra queste, la necessità di affermare un'identità forte attraverso l'eccesso di connettività. Affidandosi a una modalità di connessione ininterrotta gli smart worker aspirano al riconoscimento di uno status, ma rischiano, al contempo, di rimanere imprigionati all'interno di autentiche trappole comportamentali. Il risultato può essere penalizzante tanto per l'individuo quanto per l'organizzazione. Uno sguardo a simili dinamiche evidenzia la necessità di un approccio responsabile alla tecnologia. Un approccio ispirato a criteri di misura, di sostenibilità e di ragionevolezza. Particolarmente utili in questa prospettiva sono i concetti di "connettività necessaria" e di "benessere digitale".
Smart working, stati di connettività e identità professionali in transizione Un dialogo critico tra filosofia e management
Daniele Demarco;Luisa Errichiello
2021
Abstract
The paper investigates the emerging smart working paradigm, by bridging a philosophical and managerial perspective. In detail, it discusses specific features of what constitutes a post-Fordism form of organizing work and the broader consequences of its adoption for the daily life of individuals. The rapid diffusion of smart working, boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic, is here considered as an experimental field of the spatial-temporal transformations produced by widespread computerization. Through reshaping our social environment, these processes urge to re-define also our roles and functions. Notwithstanding the many organizational advantages deriving from smart working adoption, the article puts on the foreground some critical aspects inherent to it. In detail, it highlights how this new organizational practice challenges professional identities. Identities are also nurtured by physical interactions within institutional places of relations. In the article, key philosophical concepts along with sociological and anthropological speculations form the theoretical basis that guides the interpretation of empirical management research on the topic. This research shows that as smart workers are deprived from institutional workplaces, they witness a number of tensions that can be dangerous for their work-life balance. In the new context, in particular, they strongly feel the need to assert their identity by exaggerating the level of connectivity. To them, a state of perpetual connectivity is needed for their status to be recognized. However, it also creates behavioural traps. Detrimental outcomes can be produced for individuals and their organizations. Such dynamics urge a responsible approach to technology use that is inspired by criteria of measurement, sustainability and reasonableness. In this direction, the concepts of "necessary connectivity" and "digital well-being" are particularly valuable.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.