Siwczyk, Miro

m.z.siwczyk@lse.ac.uk

Mobile Information and Communication Technologies in Business Consulting Practice

This research explores the role of mobile technologies in business consulting firms. The key motivations for undertaking the research lie in the impact of mobile information and communication technologies (ICTs) on social lives and work patterns, and the dissemination of new organisational arrangements. I examine the infrastructure and protocols for wireless networks, existing and emerging mobile devices and applications in the context of business consultants' work practice.

Consultants spend increasingly more time working outside the physical office and a large amount of work is being carried out at clients' premises. Additionally, they remain accessible and perform certain tasks while travelling, being on the move. I intend to find out whether mobile technologies expand or constrain business consultants' autonomy and whether mobile technologies delimit or support strategies to control business consultants.

The theoretical point of departure for this research are the concepts of 'soft bureaucracy' and 'intensional networks'. In my opinion David Courpasson's view of soft bureaucracies draws attention to underlying relations inside contemporary large business consulting organisations where structures of domination seem to be combined with social entrepreneurship. The concept of intensional networks introduced by B Nardi, S Whittaker and H Schwarz provides more insights in the emerging ties in the workplace and beyond. Intensional networks can serve both as resources for individuals (eg in advancing private careers) and for organisations (eg in solving company's problems).

The field work is being carried out in Poland and involves consultants from large business consulting practices. The main methods of collecting data are based on interviews, informal meetings and discussions with a number of managers and senior consultants. The data collection is supplemented by inside involvement such as following particular tasks; participating in project management; and recording electronic traces.

Anticipated contributions of this study include insights into business consultants' perceptions, experiences and expectations towards mobile technologies; and understanding interrelations between organisational governance and the use of mobile technologies in business consulting firms.

Supervisor: Carsten Sørensen, PhD

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