Title

Telecommuting

Author

Roger J. Harvieux, Concordia University, St. Paul

Date

1999

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Chairperson (Advisor 1)

Dr. Charles Nuckles

Reader (Advisor 2)

Dr. Charlotte Knoche

Reader (Advisor 3)

Jeanette Clonkey

Abstract

This paper will focus on the factors that make telecommuting successful. The reader will be able to recognize the pitfalls and hopefully avoid those in a successful telecommuting arrangement. There are pros and cons of telecommuting~ it is not for every work position and applicability may differ from industry to industry. I will explore those areas that must be considered and hopefully allow someone considering telecommuting, the framework or checklist of critical elements that go into the decision process of asking, "Is telecommuting possible for our organization?"

Telecommuting is a relatively new option for today's workforce. Changes in attitude, technology and the workplace have created this option for many jobs in industry and the work environment in general. The term telecommuting is sometimes used in conjunction with an alternative work environment (AWE), and affords considerable flexibility for the employee and often unthought-of potential problems for the employer. A definition is that telecommuting (or telework) is an off-site work arrangement that permits employees to work in or near their homes for all or part of the workweek. Thus, they "commute" to work by telephone and other telecommunications equipment rather than by car or mass transit. The work they do away from the permanent assigned office is termed distributed work. This is a general term for job functions performed at offsite locations.

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