Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
communicate face to face with colleagues and send e-mails. Simultaneous use of many
virtual communication and collaboration channels blur also the boundaries of work related
and leisure related virtual places. While working in virtual places, many employees amused
themselves by occasional visits in leisure related places, e.g., in their own Face book pages.
Fig. 4. The elements impacting the psychosocial fit or misfit of virtual workplaces
Taking over the fit of psychosocial elements in the virtual workplace the success in
control
is essential. The interviewed subjects defined the control to flow from the success in
handling the demands of continuous availability, clear communication and collaboration
rules inside the team as well as a good command over the different virtual working modes.
They also pointed out the negative features of control. For example, the virtual tracing
methods may also be used in a way that reflects a sign of distrust.
5. Conclusions
This research showed that Vischer's model (2005, 2007) of environmental fit is useful for a
more detailed classification of virtual places and spaces. In virtual work the threshold of
usability is at the functional level due to accessibility demands (see fig. 1). The work of a
mobile employee will stop completely if the worker is not able to connect.
In order to develop well-functioning virtual workplaces for mobile employees, extensive
attention should be paid to the whole system, within which employees confront their duties
in different locations. Gaining comprehensive understanding on the context in which a
given task is performed starts by forming questions first on the physical places and later on
psychosocial themes. As such a vast field, the process demands profound multidisciplinary
collaboration of different actors in organizations and support functions. The inspection of
different fit levels is a useful tool for helping different authorities to explain their expertise
in relation to other authorities. Gaps in management may also be demonstrated. There is a
need for putting more emphasis in analyzing the non-visible work processes we have
learned to conduct in virtual entity.
According to this research with Vischer ´s model as a frame of reference, it can be stated that
