Business Phones

Question… ‘Research indicates that Blackberries significantly improve business effectiveness, responsiveness and customer service.’ Why do you think a Blackberry can make so much difference?

Possible answers… Business benefits such as anytime anywhere working quicker response times always on/available remote access to business data/systems.

In this lesson students are learning about: business use of mobile phones how mobile phone usage impacts on work–life balance

At the end of this lesson students will be able to: explain how mobile phone usage supports flexible working understand the business benefits and drawbacks of equipping employees with mobile phones explain the impact mobile phones can have on an employee’s work-life balance

Task: create a set of revision fact sheets… Work in pairs to investigate business phones such as the Blackberry. What features do they have that make them particularly suitable for business use? What can’t they do? How can equipping an employee with a business phone make them more productive? 15 mins!

The flip-side… Business phones can make employees more productive but at what cost? What are the possible drawbacks to the organisation of equipping employees with Blackberries?

Create a second fact sheet 15 mins! Answers… Time-wasting Expense (roaming charges if working abroad) Health and safety and security risks How could organisations can manage these risks? Create a second fact sheet 15 mins!

Work–life balance Scenario: someone takes their (work) Blackberry away with them on their holidays… is this a good thing? How will their work–life balance be affected? Work in pairs and find out what the key issues are and what professionals need to do to strike the right balance.

Create a final fact sheet agreeing on 5 golden rules for Work-life balance