Title: Mobile work, mobile technology: consequences for decision-making

Authors: Fabio Miguel Junges; Amarolinda Zanela Klein; Claudio Reis Gonçalo; Carsten Sørensen

Addresses: Business School, University of the Sinos Valley (UNISINOS), Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil ' Business School, University of the Sinos Valley (UNISINOS), Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil ' University of the Valley of Itajaí (UNIVALI), Itajaí/SC, Brazil ' Department of Management, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London, UK

Abstract: This article explores how the decision-making processes that occur during mobile work differ from those that occur in fixed workplaces. We explored if the levels of intuition and rationality change in decision-making processes and how the use of mobile ICT influence the individual's perception of information quality. A qualitative research approach was applied combining a group and individual interviews, and a non-participant observation of a decision-making process simulation with 115 participants. The levels of intuition and reasoning in decision-making are not different between fixed and mobile groups. However, there is a perception of lower information quality and difficulties to process information in a mobility context. The time pressure caused by the constant connectivity via mobile devices has potentially adverse consequences for decision-making, increasing individuals' exposure to error. As positive consequences, there is greater agility of decision flows related to the use of mobile ICT, especially regarding low complexity decisions.

Keywords: decision-making; mobility; mobile ICT; mobile work; intuition.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2020.104209

International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 2020 Vol.19 No.1, pp.66 - 90

Received: 02 Jan 2019
Accepted: 16 Mar 2019
Published online: 20 Dec 2019 *

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