Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Management

Advisor

David Gould

Abstract

The smart mobile device market penetration reached 50% and has been increasing an average of 39% per year in the United States. More than 70% of the smart mobile device owners use such devices for personal and work activities. The problem was the lack of management's understanding of the effect smart mobile device use has on how employees work when they are in the office, while traveling, or during the off-hours to improve productivity and customer service. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand why, when, and how employees used smart mobile devices. The transformational technology conceptual framework was based on Charan's and Welch's theory that new technologies and how people work is critical to productivity. The sample consisted of 21 anonymous participants from randomly selected mid-level and senior management working for Fortune 1000 companies within the U.S. An open-ended questionnaire was designed for collecting lived experiences from the participants. Data were coded using open and axial techniques to identify themes and patterns to understand the way employees use smart mobile devices. Findings showed that smart mobile devices became an inseparable part of employees' life and created the always on culture erasing the boundaries between professional and personal life. Employees perform work and personal activities in the office, while traveling for business or leisure, and during time-off. Implications for social change include helping companies improve the workplace and for employees to improve their productivity through mobile technologies thus potentially developing better products and services for the public.

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