Anytime/Anyplace Computing and the Future of Knowledge Work.

This article focuses on productivity concerns of workers due to emergence of anytime/anyplace computing or ubiquitous computing culture. Since there is little experience with omnipresent computing in knowledge work, the good and bad effects on productivity are anticipated based on the existing activities and behaviors of knowledge workers. Knowledge work is a significant portion of the work done in organizations, so productivity by knowledge workers is a matter of great concern to both organizations and individuals. There are very large differences in productivity among knowledge workers. For example, using typical measures of performance, productivity of the best performing systems analysts and programmers can range up to three or more times that of the lowest performers. This high ratio is not usually found in production work and clerical work because the organization provides work routines that reduce wasted time and effort and establish an expected pace for the work In knowledge work, there may be some organization standards and procedures, such as deadlines for reports, requirements for evidence of progress, and expectations about outputs. Knowledge work productivity depends on good self-management. In unlimited access computing, a person has access at all times and all places to all information and communication resources.