Knowledge Processes and Communication Dynamics in Mobile Telework

This chapter links together a practice based perspective on knowledge with the interests of the ‘‘virtual working’’ literature on how the technological mediation of communication in such processes affects the nature of the social relationships that exist between workers. For example this literature suggests that it is more difficult to develop and sustain interpersonal trust than when significant opportunities for face-to-face interaction exist. As the practice based perspective on knowledge emphasizes the impact that interpersonal communication has on knowledge processes this represents an interesting context within which to examine the relationship between communication dynamics and knowledge processes.

Further, the practice based perspective on knowledge regards processes of knowing as being embedded in, sustained through, and developed via the specific (and typically collective) work activities that people carry out. Thus to research and understand the process of knowing that workers are involved in requires an empirical focus on their work activities (Orlikowski 2002). This chapter therefore examines the knowledge processes and communication dynamics of some virtual workers by paying close attention to their work tasks.

The specific type of virtual workers examined are mobile teleworkers, a relatively neglected sub-group in the population of teleworkers/virtual workers. These are workers who require to be spatially mobile to conduct their work, traveling between different sites. The chapter shows how the specific spatial mobility patterns of the workers examined had a significant effect on the communication dynamics of their interactions with co-workers.