Volume 21, Issue 2

Abstract

Co-operation with preservation of autonomy. The effects of e-mail on quality of working life

Co-operation with preservation of autonomy. The effects of e-mail on quality of working life

This paper addresses the question whether the use of e-mail enhances or threatens quality of working life. The results of qualitative and explorative research at the Head Quarters of the Dutch Royal Navy are presented. Interviews with employees were used as a method to investigate the use of e-mail and its effect on quality of working life. The (preliminary) conclusion of this research is that the use of e-mail enhances quality of working life. The opportunities for not-work related communication through e-mail are not considered to be important and employees indicated that the use of e-mail does not enhance their workload. The informal style of communication has a moderately positive effect on quality of working life. The most important factor in the relation between the use of e-mail and quality of working life is the autonomy of employees. Employees have more opportunities to execute their tasks in the way the want. E-mail facilitates cooperation between relatively autonomous employees and this enhances the quality of work.

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/content/journals/10.5117/2005.021.002.008
2005-06-01
2024-03-28
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http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.5117/2005.021.002.008
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Keyword(s): e-mail,kwaliteit van de arbeid,Koninklijke Marine/e-mail,quality of working life,Royal Navy

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