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Place as a Practical Concern of Mobile Workers

Author

Listed:
  • Barry Brown

    (Department of Computing Science, University of Glasgow, 17 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland)

  • Kenton O'Hara

    (The Appliance Studio, University Gate, Park Row, Bristol, BS1 5UB, England)

Abstract

In this paper we examine the spatial practices of mobile workers—how mobile workers manage their use of technology and place. Data from interviews with highly mobile workers and ‘hot-deskers’ are used to explore the reciprocal relationship between practice and place: how places change work, but also how work changes places. Mobile workers often need to configure their activities to take account of the different places in which they find themselves. This can involve considerable ‘juggling’ of their plans, humble office equipment, and their coworkers. In turn mobile workers change places, as they appropriate different sites for their work. Specifically, technology allows for the limited reappropriation of travel and leisure sites as places for work (such as trains and cafés). Time is also an important practical concern for mobile workers. Although mobile work may be seen as relatively flexible, fixed temporal structures allow mobile workers to ‘accomplish synchronicity’ with others. Although this paper focuses on the specific practices of mobile workers, it also explores how ‘grand social theory’ can help us understand the practical details of mobile work, yet how practice cannot be simply reduced to theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Barry Brown & Kenton O'Hara, 2003. "Place as a Practical Concern of Mobile Workers," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 35(9), pages 1565-1587, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:35:y:2003:i:9:p:1565-1587
    DOI: 10.1068/a34231
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bertil Vilhelmson & Eva Thulin, 2001. "Is Regular Work at Fixed Places Fading Away? The Development of ICT-Based and Travel-Based Modes of Work in Sweden," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 33(6), pages 1015-1029, June.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Imre Keseru & Cathy Macharis, 2018. "Travel-based multitasking: review of the empirical evidence," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(2), pages 162-183, March.
    3. Jain, Juliet & Lyons, Glenn, 2008. "The gift of travel time," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 16(2), pages 81-89.
    4. Jia Tang & Feng Zhen & Jason Cao & Patricia L. Mokhtarian, 2018. "How do passengers use travel time? A case study of Shanghai–Nanjing high speed rail," Transportation, Springer, vol. 45(2), pages 451-477, March.
    5. Disney, Tom & Warwick, Lisa & Ferguson, Harry & Leigh, Jadwiga & Cooner, Tarsem Singh & Beddoe, Liz & Jones, Phil & Osborne, Tess, 2019. "“Isn't it funny the children that are further away we don't think about as much?”: Using GPS to explore the mobilities and geographies of social work and child protection practice," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 39-49.
    6. Line, Tilly & Jain, Juliet & Lyons, Glenn, 2011. "The role of ICTs in everyday mobile lives," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(6), pages 1490-1499.
    7. Shahper Richter & Alexander Richter, 2020. "Digital Nomads," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 62(1), pages 77-81, February.

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