Transitions across work-life boundaries in a connected world: the case of social entrepreneurs

Information and communication technologies (ICTs), including mobile technologies, have significant implications for the management of work-life balance (WLB) (e.g. Perrons, 2003) and thus for sustainable work practices within organizations and society at large. Boundary theory (Clark, 2000) argues that individuals maintain boundaries between role identities (e.g. parent, worker) within different social domains (e.g. family, work), and that they regularly have to transition between these domains. WLB may reflect the effectiveness of this transitioning. ICTs have significant implications for the management of these boundaries, particularly as they open up new areas for interaction through mobility and through the potential provision of a variety of easily available connections. In this paper, we report on the findings of 15 social entrepreneurs’ video and interview data. In particular, we explore and advance understanding of the individual experience of switching between roles and domains in relation to ICT use and connectivity

Digi-housekeeping: a new form of digital labour?

Event synopsis: The theme for the WORK2015 Conference, New Meanings of Work sought its justification not only from the changes in work itself but from the global shifts both in the divisions and in the contents of the work. The ongoing turbulences of the post-recession economies at the global, regional and national levels shake also the work and its meanings. The on-going economic and societal changes are connected to forms and boundaries of work and to modes of working and ways of living that are yet to thoroughly mapped and explored. The recent transformations touch the very definition of what is work and call for rigorous explorations and new analyses

Exploring boundaries in the hybrid environment

Event synopsis: The theme for the WORK2015 Conference, New Meanings of Work sought its justification not only from the changes in work itself but from the global shifts both in the divisions and in the contents of the work. The ongoing turbulences of the post-recession economies at the global, regional and national levels shake also the work and its meanings. The on-going economic and societal changes are connected to forms and boundaries of work and to modes of working and ways of living that are yet to thoroughly mapped and explored. The recent transformations touch the very definition of what is work and call for rigorous explorations and new analyses

The discursive possibilities for social entrepreneurs within the discourse of 'work-life balance'

In this paper we examine current debates about work‐life balance against a background of changing work practices and the advent of mobile technologies. We contrast the discursive construction of work‐life balance in online media with the discursive possibilities available to men and women who construct their identities as ‘social entrepreneurs’ and encounter these issues in their daily lives. In doing so, we draw on data from Web 2.0 media as well as a video diary and narrative interview study. In contrast to dominant media representations that position WLB as desirable, identity construction by social entrepreneurs is embedded in justifications for lacking or not needing WLB through a normalising discourse which prioritises and valorises creative freedom, achieving social good, and blurred work‐life boundaries

The digital brain switch: managing rapid transitions between role identities in a digital world

In this paper, we present initial findings from an EPSRC-sponsored multi-disciplinary research project investigating how digital technologies and social media affect role transitions across work-life domains. The research uses an innovative combination of visual diaries and narrative interviews to capture micro-transitions (‘switches’) and explore these with participants in the context of their overall lives. Findings from a pilot study with academics are reported here in terms of: emergent digital boundary management strategies; triggers for rapid switching and the effects of this; and the function of meta roles and multi-role cognitions. The research contributes to current thinking in work-life literature in terms of devising innovative methods, focusing on the micro- transitional and in considering the role of the digital and social media in boundary management

Exploring media construction of investment banking as dirty work

Purpose - To explore how two kinds of UK-based media positioned investment banking as dirty work during the financial crisis, thereby engaging in moral enterprise (Becker 1963) and contributing to the shaping of society’s normative contours (Cohen 1972). - Design/methodology - We employ rhetorical analysis to explore how newspaper editorials and an online blog portray investment banking as tainted between April 2008 and October 2009. - Findings – These media sources construct the values and behaviours of investment bankers, rather than the tasks of their occupation, as morally tainted. Through specific rhetorical strategies they advance three key arguments: bankers are morally tainted because their wealth is excessive; because their wealth is not earned; and because they are selfish and materialist. - Originality/value – In investigating media designations of investment banking as dirty work, the paper addresses two aspects of dirty work which are underexplored. Firstly it examines a high-prestige occupation and secondly investigates the construction and attribution of taint to a previously untainted occupation. It makes two methodological contributions to the literature: contributing to the nascent interest in the media’s construction of dirty work (for example, Grandy and Mavin 2012); and using rhetorical analysis to study the construction of taint

Benchmarking Good Practice in Qualitative Management Research

This paper is based upon the findings so far of an ESRC funded project investigating the use and evaluation of qualitative methods in management research. Work began in March 2003 and is scheduled to run until February 2005. The project is part of a larger programme of work being funded by the ESRC, which focuses specifically on extending and improving Research Methods in the research and practitioner communities. We are moving towards some ideas and understanding about the issues that might influence the quality of qualitative research and where this might lead in terms of the development of more training, education and dialogue. In this paper, we discuss our work so far in exploring this area and the issues that it raises

Benchmarking good practice in qualitative management research

This report presents an analysis of assessment criteria and training needs for qualitative management research. 45 in-depth interviews were held with members of four panels: academic disseminators; practitioners; doctoral programme leaders; and qualitative researchers. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and interpreted with the aid of template analysis. This report presents six major themes from this analysis concerning qualitative management research: definitions; status and credibility; good practice; assessment criteria; training needs; professional and institutional context. A variety of definitions of qualitative management research were identified ranging from indicating a central concern with the subjectivity of research practice to barely constituting research at all. Such a range of definitions indicates the range of work in the area but also implies that the derivation of a set of universal assessment criteria is problematic. Sources of research credibility also varied widely. To some extent judgements of credibility were seen to depend on aspects of the nature and conduct of the research itself (e.g. methodical, conclusive, technically skilled etc), but also as influenced by symbolism and context. In general definitions of credibility were seen to disadvantage qualitative research. Various elements of good practice in relation to qualitative management research were identified (and sometimes disputed) including flexible research design, epistemologically coherent analysis, reflexivity concerning process and product of research and a persuasive, engaging presentation. Assessing qualitative management research appeared to be more of an intuitive decision-making process than an application of known and agreed criteria (cf quantitative research). Judgements in these areas vary according to the beliefs and commitments of the individual. Reflecting this variety, a summary table of contingent criteria is presented at the end of the report. Provision of qualitative research training was seen to vary but be generally scarce and of poor quality . Specific training needs included: ‘technical’ skills, such as data analysis techniques and writing; knowledge of underlying philosophical issues; reviewing skills; and PhD supervision. Current research practice was seen to be deeply affected by pressures within the current academic context including audit processes and career needs. Such pressures may work against the adoption of qualitative management research. In general all these issues were seen to be highly related and inter-dependent. While some contextual issues cannot be addressed by this research, the report concludes with an overview of the qualitative management research workshops derived from our interpretation of the interviewees’ observations

Methods for monitoring work-life balance in a digital world

Digital technologies - smart phones, email, social networking, etc. - are fundamentally changing our relationship with work. Digital technologies enable us to be always connected. However, the question remains as to how digital technologies affect our work-life balance. In this position paper, we report on some methods we are using to study how to continuously monitor and observe work-life balance, and discuss the advantages/disadvantages of these methods. Work-life balance is a relatively under-explored area in the quantified self literature; this paper therefore contributes to broader discussions on quantified self but from a domain that has received little attention to date