User:C rossie MGCR331/Control and Ownership of Mobile Devices:

Christopher Rossie (c_rossie_MGCR331) ID:260255177

Control and Ownership of Mobile Devices: Employer Vs Employee. (MGCR 331 Tuesday)

There are several reasons why an employer may be inclined to monitor their employee’s use of company owned equipment or mobile devices. The most apparent justification of employer monitoring is the rising need for security in one’s business. As well, the loss or exchange of vital information from employee to competitor has become much easier through mobile or wireless connections. This new era of mobile employees also creates a growing concern for the quality of work and productivity of an employee. With electronic monitoring, possibilities of increased profitability and control are more easily acquired.

In terms of security, it is crucial that sensitive information is secured from individuals who should not have access to it. Whether it is your ambitious employee, cybercriminals or the industry rivals, a monitoring system can keep private data from prying eyes as well as maintain a competitive edge by alerting the appropriate authorities.

How much time does your employee spend working during office hours? It is important to monitor your employee’s productivity whether they work on the road or in the office. Much like medical practitioners, lawyers and other professionals some office workers are given a certain amount of autonomy which makes it more difficult to monitor the employee’s productivity. On the other hand, it is much easier to monitor an employee who works in the office on a daily basis.

How can an employer monitor staff? Monitoring e-mail usage, URL’s visited, keystroke entries, limiting and restricting specific functions and applications such as Hotmail, Facebook and YouTube, gives an employer a more accurate cost effective depiction of an employee’s quality and speed of work. Monitoring tools, if used appropriately can strengthen a relationship between the employer and employee.

''The measurement of work by computer is a legitimate management tool that should be used wisely. Used appropriately, monitoring and related techniques, such as incentive pay or promotion based on productivity, can increase both an organization’s effectiveness and the employee’s ability to advance. (Lund, p.54)''

At what point do the ethical boundaries come in to play in the work environment? Ownership of a device does not necessarily justify the infringement of privacy. From the employee’s perspective, this intrusion into the personal space may result in stress, frustration, even demoralization of the employee’s well being and a disintegration of the relationship between employer and employee.

While there are clearly conflicting interests regarding the monitoring and control of mobile devices, a harmonious work environment is vital to a thriving business. As Lund suggests, the use of monitoring devices can be linked to employee incentives which can create a balance between the needs of the employer and employee. Finding the right balance is the challenge.

References

• Detienne, K.B.(1993). Big Brother or friendly Coach. Futurist, 27, p. 33-37

• Lund, J.(1992). Electronic performance Monitoring: A Review of the Research Issues. Applied Ergonomics, 23, p.54-58

Retrieved from "http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Control_and_Ownership_of_Mobile_Devices:_Employers_vs._Employees_6.1.2"