Universit Libre de Bruxelles

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• Université Libre de Bruxelles
• Belgian Teleworking Association
• Le Télétravail
• Paul VAN BINST
• vanbinst_at_helios.iihe.ac.be
• www.iihe.ac.be
• www.bta.be

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Telework, E-Work,

• Flexible Working is...
• ...being able to work with customers, suppliers,
  employees and other SMEs independently of
  distance and time.
• ...by means of the latest computer and
  communications methods effectively used and
  managed.
• It includes teleworking and is also called
  e-work.

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ICT today...

• Encounter / collision / merge
• (essentially unplanned / unexpected) of
• gt the Internet (and the Web)
• gt the GSM (and the Laptop and the Palmtop)
• gt New tools, new applications and services
• (eg. Internet telephony, I-mode, MMS)
• gt New behaviours, new businesses

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ICT tomorrow...

• Encounter / collision / merge with two other
  worlds
• RADIO and TELEVISION
• (and their content providers)
• Location based services (GPS, GSM, )
• Authentication / Privacy / Security

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So many networks...

• Backbone networks (WANs),
• Local area networks (LANs)
• and access networks
• All wired or wireless

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Technologies for flexible working(and how to use
them)

• Traditional telework technology
• PC with printer, modem up to 56 kb/s, phone, fax.
• Newer technologies to ease flexible working
• high speed access to Internet
• increasingly interactive World Wide Web
• telephone conferencing
• video conferencing
• collaborative working tools

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Why Teleworking?

• FOR THE EMPLOYER
• looks for better competitivity
• through a more flexible organisation
• by reducing its infrastructure and travel costs
• by improving specialists recruitment
• the experience also shows
• increase in productivity, quality of work, and
  client service
• better employee morale and loyalty

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Why Teleworking?

• FOR THE EMPLOYEE
• looks for a better quality of life
• less shuttle travel
• integration of family and community life with
  professional life
• better employability, particularly in case of
  mobility or other problems (handicaps)
• ... And for SOCIETY (Politics), multiple areas of
  improvement pollution, health, energy, mobility,
  local economy, security, ...

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How to Telework?

• virtual office infrastructure e-mail,
  intranet, groupware, videoconference, ...
• workstation at home, in telecentre, nomads
  (salesmen, inspectors, free-lances, technicians,
  etc.)
• but also and especially - soft aspects
• for employees self-discipline, time management,
  initiative
• for supervisors management by objective,
  delegation, motivation
• gt for employers new aspects of HRM

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Essential elements of success

• Proper selection of teleworkers - suitable
  person, job role and an adequate home situation
• Management by objectives - trust, plans and
  progress meetings
• Management support of teleworkers, not leaving
  them out
• Adequate ICT support
• Good communication between teleworkers and other
  staff - e-mail culture essential
• Use Total Costs of Ownership for Return On
  Investment calculation - not purchase costs
• Ensure that teleworkers have same rights and
  obligations as employees in the office

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Cases

• Three well-known, large companies in Belgium with
  lots of teleworkers
• ALCATEL
• BELGACOM
• IBM
• Much information is available from them or
  through BTA, also on smaller entreprises
  (FLEXWORK, HIVA-KUL/ULB-STC projects)

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Main (organisational) lessons learned

• Problems of
• Management by objectives (middle managers)
• Human relations (motivation, social contact,
  self discipline)
• ICT support (help desk, e-training, )

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More Info

• Belgian Teleworking Association
• www.bta.be
• info_at_bta.be
• FLEXWORK Project
• www.flexwork.eu.com
• info_at_flexwork.eu.com

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The Belgian Teleworking Association

• MISSION BTA is a non-profit making association
  whose main objectives are to study, encourage
  and propagate all forms of Telework in Belgium,
  in an independant way.
• ACTIVITIES
• information services quarterly bulletin,
  library, Internet site, info (e-mail), etc.
• organisation of meetings, conferences and debates
• study groups
• participation in research projects
• relations with other associations, European
  network