articleOrganization ScienceFeb 13, 2013GREEN OA

The Autonomy Paradox: The Implications of Mobile Email Devices for Knowledge Professionals

MMMelissa MazmanianWJWanda J. OrlikowskiJYJoAnne Yates

University of California, Irvine

Indexed incrossref

Abstract

Our research examines how knowledge professionals use mobile email devices to get their work done and the implications of such use for their autonomy to control the location, timing, and performance of work. We found that knowledge professionals using mobile email devices to manage their communication were enacting a norm of continual connectivity and accessibility that produced a number of contradictory outcomes. Although individual use of mobile email devices offered these professionals flexibility, peace of mind, and control over interactions in the short term, it also intensified collective expectations of their availability, escalating their engagement and thus reducing their ability to disconnect from…

Citation impact

1,175
total citations
FWCI
90.25
Percentile
100%
References
115
Citations per year

Authors

3

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Autonomy
  • Flexibility (engineering)
  • Public relations
  • Mobile device
  • Norm (philosophy)
  • Work (physics)
  • Control (management)
  • Internet privacy
No related works found for this paper.

Funding