Dell Research Reveals Canada Has Room for Growth In Consumerization of Technology In The Workplace
Dell and Intel Global Research Reveals Canada Has Room for Growth In Consumerization of Technology In The Workplace
· Seven in ten employees would choose to work for an organization that offers the latest technology
· Less than a third (31 per cent) of Canadian employees has the ability to influence the choice of technology provided by their employer
· Older employees have a greater appreciation for technology as a business enabler
· Nearly half of Canadian employees feel overloaded with work and one in four feels threatened by outsourcing
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Toronto, Ontario, Dec. 7, 2011 – Shifts in technology are not only changing the way Canadians work and do business, they are also changing workplace dynamics, presenting new opportunities and challenges to employers and employees, according to a new study released today by Dell and Intel. Findings from the Phase 2 of the Evolving Workforce Research Program, highlighted the responses of employees to major evolving workforce trends.
Based on responses from 8,360 interviews with employees worldwide, including 500 Canadians, Report #2: The Workforce Perspective highlights employee attitudes towards new working practices and technologies, emerging approaches to measuring productivity, the role technology plays as a business and innovation enabler as well as the potential schisms between employers and employees and between workers with differing levels of technology expertise. Among the key findings of the report are:
· Have a Say on Technology: Nearly a third (31 per cent) of Canadian workers has the option to influence or choose the type of computer or technology their employer provides, but there is still room for growth. While this number is higher than in many other developed countries such as the U.S. (29 per cent), the UK (27 per cent) or France (28 per cent), Canada still lags emerging markets in consumerization of IT such as China (59 per cent), Mexico (57 per cent) and Brazil (50 per cent). The freedom of an employee to choose the technology used in the workplace is more common in the private sector than in the public sector (36 per cent vs. 20 per cent) and with small to medium size business vs. large enterprises (40 per cent vs. 27 per cent). Interoperability between devices is more important (40 per cent) than having a single technology device to meet all work needs (36 per cent).
· Technology and Talent: Employers who vie for top talent should take note of the role technology plays in attracting and retaining employees. Seven in ten Canadian professionals admit they are attracted to work for a company that offers the latest technology. This is true for respondents across all age groups. At the same time, nearly four in ten (41 per cent) of respondents cited IT problems as a frustration in their daily working life.
· Technology as a Business Enabler: Aligned with global perception, 84 per cent of Canadian employees agree that the Internet and technology are creating opportunities to do business in different ways. Interestingly, awareness of technology as a business enabler is more prevalent (90 per cent) among older employees (55-64) who likely have experienced a pre-Internet era workplace versus the younger generation (70 per cent of 18-24s) who grew up with the web. On the downside, these technological advances also surface a sense of insecurity. About one quarter (23 per cent) of Canadian respondents fear outsourcing as a threat to their role and 28 per cent perceive it as a threat ten years from now. This notion is more pervasive among those working in large enterprises (29 per cent) than SMB workers (16 per cent).
· Trust in the Workplace: While an overwhelming majority of Canadian employees (90 per cent) feel trusted to use company’s resources responsibly, about a third of respondents believe employers monitor their emails (30 per cent) and their time (39 per cent) during the day. This perception is more prevalent among workers in large enterprises than in SMBs. Thirty eight percent of employees in large enterprises believe their email is monitored and nearly half (47 per cent) think their employers monitor time. This is compared to 22 per cent and 35 per cent for SMB employees respectively.
· Work-Life Balance: Although technology enables more flexibility in the workplace and productivity is now measured by outputs rather than time spent at work for 75 per cent of Canadian employees, many of them still find it challenging to manage the work-life balance. More than four in ten (43 per cent) respondents find it difficult to switch off from work during their free time and nearly half (48 per cent) believe they have too much work on their plate to complete in a traditional 9-to-5 schedule.
The Evolving Workforce Research is a series of three studies that have been commissioned in response to these challenges as well as to predict some of the key trends that will shape how IT will support the workforce in the years ahead. Working with TNS Global Research, this quantitative phase of the research comprised a 20-minute survey speaking directly to the working consumer in 11 countries. A total of 8,360 interviews were conducted in October 2011, including 500 from across Canada.
The first phase of the research introduced seven key trends or hypotheses to a group of influential global experts – including senior technologists, analysts, consultants, journalists, HR/recruitment professionals, advisers, architects/designers, futurists and organizational psychologists – who came together to offer commentary and predictions on the implications of these trends for workers and organizations as well as IT departments.
Quotes:
“As technologies continue to evolve and individuals become more sophisticated in their usage, so too will their desire to transfer these experiences to the workplace to be more productive and effective,” said Paul Cooper, country manager, Dell Canada . “The results of this research demonstrate the growing correlation between access to the right technology in the workplace and employee satisfaction, productivity and innovation. Organizations that vie for top talent should embrace the consumerization of IT phenomenon and assess how best to adapt to meet growing employee demands.”
Additional Information:
The Evolving Workforce Research Program
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About Dell:
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more. For more information, visit www.dell.ca.
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