In July 2007, Cisco published the results of a very interesting study into how mobile workers should be managed. The study found that mobile workers are more extroverted than non-mobile workers, that they need “to have low levels of neuroticism and high levels of emotional stability,” that they need to live with reduced levels of security associated with their role in the company, that they need to be independent and that they need to be more disciplined than the average worker. In short, mobile workers need to be more resilient, more creative and better able to manage stress than the average worker.

There are two conclusions that one could draw from this research. First, the market for mobile technologies (and, by extension, collaborative technologies in general) will be limited to those workers who are sufficiently extroverted, emotionally stable, secure, independent, disciplined and with few neuroses. If one accepts this interpretation, the market for mobile technologies (depending on who you ask) will max out well under 100%.

However, another interpretation of the data is that mobile, collaborative and related technologies – if implemented correctly – can allow people to work in a more physically disconnected way regardless of their personality traits. For example, someone who today is dependent on being in physical proximity to co-workers to get questions answered and to be effective in getting their work done might be able to work well remotely if given instant messaging and integrated videoconferencing capabilities. Introverted workers might be effective as mobile workers if given “push” technologies that allow them to get the information they need without having to be self-starters in gathering the information themselves.

I believe that the more appropriate interpretation of the data is the latter – that instead of personality types limiting the growth of mobile and other technologies, these technologies can be deployed in a way that minimizes the need to employ people with the “right” personality characteristics.

I’d appreciate hearing your views on this – please drop me an e-mail with your thoughts. The Cisco study is available for review here.

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