Table Of ContentAgile Working and
Well-Being in the Digital
Age
Edited by
Christine Grant
Emma Russell
Agile Working and Well-Being in the Digital Age
·
Christine Grant Emma Russell
Editors
Agile Working
and Well-Being
in the Digital Age
Editors
Christine Grant Emma Russell
School of Psychological, Social and University of Sussex Business School
Behavioural Sciences (USBS)
Coventry University University of Sussex
Coventry, UK Brighton, UK
ISBN 978-3-030-60282-6 ISBN 978-3-030-60283-3 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60283-3
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To Bill, Gabriella and my mum and dad for their constant support and
motivation
—Christine Grant
To my lovely family, thanks for your enduring support
—Emma Russell
Foreword
From the 1980s and 1990s, technology-enabled working, at distance
frommainorganisationallocations,hasgrowninsophistication,numbers
of workers participating in such working practices and range of occupa-
tions covered. In 2020 in particular, we have seen a massive and rapid
shift to home and other forms of tech-enabled working because of the
pandemic of 2019/2020. At the time of writing, extensive tech-enabled
working from remote locations may become the ‘new normal’ for some,
andatemporaryformofbusinesscontinuityforothers,asflare-upscause
local lockdowns.
Against this backdrop, this edited collection provides a timely and up-
to-dateoverviewofkeyissuesonthehumanexperienceofagileworking,
a form of working that encompasses temporal and spatial flexibility and
the use of technologies, to address organisational and worker needs.
Understanding the human experience is fundamental to effective tech-
enabled working: time and again, research has revealed that ignoring
the human side of technology leads to sub-optimal solutions that force
the soft machine (human) to adapt to the hard machine (technology).
Accordingly,agileworkingcanposemanychallenges,includingthreatsto
well-beingfromworkintensification,blurringofwork/homeboundaries,
email (and other forms of technology) addiction, an always on culture,
digital surveillance and social isolation.
Providing a range of relevant resources in one collection, the book’s
chapters cover key topics pertinent to managing the challenges of agile
vii
viii FOREWORD
working, such as home/work boundary management, distractions from
new communications technologies, promoting physical activity in remote
and sedentary workers, competencies required by digital workers, team-
working, leadership and the use of space.
Engaging and intelligently written, the collection covers current
research, future research needs and guidance on implementing agile
working. As such, the book will be of interest to researchers, practi-
tioners in human resource management and management consulting,
postgraduate and advanced undergraduate students studying the nature
of contemporary working practices.
August 2020 Kevin Daniels
Professor of Organizational Behaviour
Norwich Business School
University of East Anglia
Norwich, Norfolk, UK
Acknowledgements
This book started as a seed of an idea two years ago, an aspiration to
explore the effects of digitisation on our lives. I would like to thank
Emma for making this a reality, providing a supporting voice through
every step; working together has been effortless, innovative and kept me
sanethroughaglobalpandemic,thisbookisbetterforoureveryconver-
sation. I would also like to thank every chapter author for their contri-
bution; fresh minds and new insights equal fascinating reading. Finally,
thankyoutomyhusbandBillanddaughterGabriella,forgivingmespace
to work extra hours, my eternal sounding boards, being the best support
team I could wish for, and for never doubting this could be real.
Agile working can only be a success with an open mind, tools to make
it work and an ability to embrace change; I hope those reading this book
will find a fresh approach.
—Dr. Christine Grant (August 2020)
This has been such an interesting and enjoyable project, and there are
several people I would especially like to thank. Firstly, to our chapter
authors who produced such insightful and original work, were open to
suggestions and amazingly met all of our deadlines. Thank you—it has
been a pleasure to work with you. Secondly, to the organisations and
colleagues I work with, who have really informed my understanding of
best practice in agile work, and how this can be effectively applied in the
context of real-world constraints and demands.
ix
x ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Next, to Chris. What can I say? For your support, supreme organisa-
tional skills, intellect and drive—thank you. I have loved working on this
with you. I look forward to our next collaboration.
Finally,toJ,IsobelandHarry—thankyouforyourendlesssupportand
pride in what I do, and for being the best part of every day.
—Dr. Emma Russell (August 2020)
Contents
Part I What is Agile Working?
1 Introduction to Agile Working and Well-Being
in the Digital Age 3
Emma Russell and Christine Grant
1.1 Agile Working and Well-Being in the Digital Age 4
1.2 What Is Agile Working? 6
1.2.1 Promoting Temporal and Spatial Flexibility 7
1.2.2 Integrating Resources 7
1.2.3 Engaging in Innovative Activities 8
1.2.4 Utilising New Communication
and Digital Technologies 9
1.3 What Issues Arise from Agile Working? 10
1.4 The Structure of This Book 12
1.4.1 What Is Agile Working? 12
1.4.2 Managing Boundaries 13
1.4.3 Managing Digital Communications 13
1.4.4 Healthy, Effective and Sustainable Agile
Working 13
1.4.5 Dynamic and Innovative Approaches
to Effectively Managing and Sharing
Resources 14
1.4.6 Conclusions 14
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