2008 August - USB Agenda Magazine

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Niks wag meer vir Maandag nie
(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch Business School, 2008-08) Marais, Jana
With around the clock connectivity nothing waits for Monday any longer. Our cell phones, laptops and PDAs allow us to be more available, more productive and more mobile. However, if we don’t manage this, other people’s demands on our time can spill over to our private time as connectivity intertwines our personal and work lives like never before. The internet security group Nortel and the consulting group IDC questioned 2 400 employees in 17 countries about their connectivity tools and working habits. The survey showed that more than 60% of these employees send business-related e-mails while on holiday, 40% send business messages from bed and more than 30% are in touch with their offices while eating out. About 35% of the respondents said mobile technology helps them, while 21% said it hampers them. Martin Butler, lecturer in Information Systems at the USB, says people should separate work and personal communication. They should also schedule time for activities like reading, research and socialising. The bottom line: We need new skills to manage our priorities and the flood of communication made possible by mobile technology and 24/7 connectivity.