Digital workplaces

Whilst organizations accept that effective information management (IM) is now crucial to information/knowledge worker productivity and organizational performance, the continued dramatic growth in information volumes has not been accompanied by increased information management capability. This is the case for both data and unstructured information. At the same time the consumerization of technology, growth in social media, and expectations of the work environment are resulting in pressure on IT and IM functions to deliver information and information tools via multiple channels/devices and simple interfaces. This article charts the evolution of views on the digital workplace and the drivers that now render this an essential strategic direction for organizations. The desirable features of the digital workplace can be achieved now through integration of four technologies – mobile; big data; cloud computing and search-based applications – and with a focus on developing for the mobile environment. Providing this environment could transform the way in which work is accomplished both in terms of individual and organizational productivity and competitiveness. Understanding organizations through an ethnological and cultural perspective will be essential to the design and management of this transformation.