A multi-level socio-technical systems telecommuting framework

Abstract

Telecommuting can help create organizational efficiencies and improve competitive\nadvantage. It has been studied from a variety of perspectives, including that of transportation,\nmanagement, psychology, and information systems. However, telecommuting literature, while\nabundant and diversified, often reports contradictory results, creating dilemmas for practice and\nresearch. Past researchers noting such conflicting findings often identify the lack of guiding\ntheoretical bases as a key problem. In an attempt to explain the contradictory results found in\nprior research and in practice, we review telecommuting literature and expose conceptualization\nissues that need to be addressed in the development of a telecommuting research model:\ntelecommuting as both a context and an aspect of work, as a multi-level concept, and as a timedependent\nconcept. The proposed multi-level model, guided by socio-technical systems theory,\nillustrates the inter-relationships of telecommuting antecedents and outcomes across levels of\nanalysis and over time. The research offers a number of important implications for future\nresearch, as well as for managers involved in or affected by telecommuting in their\norganizations.