Mobile Consultancy Work : Social Interaction through Enabling Technologies

Abstract: The shift toward mobility have today created higher demands on companies, consultants, the right use of working methods, workplace strategies, the information sharing as well as the interaction and collaboration with different customers. If consultants are able to work effective outside the office, from everywhere and at any time regardless of location with the help of mobile technologies, companies can reduce unnecessary costs, gain market share and competitive advantages. This study examines how mobile technologies enable social interaction of IT consultants‟ mobile work. The purpose of this Master thesis is to identify IT consultants‟ mobile work and the existing implications in mobility today. The thesis will also bring up the set of problems with mobility to the surface and create a deeper understanding of IT consultants‟ mobile work and more knowledge about mobile technologies and how they can enable social interaction. The thesis‟ empirical foundation is derived from 18 interviews with representatives from; NaviPro, Sogeti and Logica. The interviews will provide the reader with a better understanding in; how mobile technologies can enable social interaction and which implications consultants face during their mobile work. The theoretical basis is composed from secondary data to receive an understanding and background to the problem area. The empirical data is then analyzed by means of presented theories which are also assumed in the preparation of the interviews. We have come to the conclusion that today‟s technology has failed to satisfy the consultants‟ social needs and that there are significant implications that can result in lack of face-to-face interaction, social and professional isolation and higher demands of constantly be reachable. However, with the access of laptops, smartphones and mobile broadband consultants can minimize following implications and perform more than 50% of their work and still be a productive and effective consultant.