Impact of Smartphone Usage on Employee Productivity in the Workplace

This research paper analyzes the impact of smartphone usage on employee productivity in the workplace. It includes data collection and analysis methods, ethical considerations, and findings from surveys conducted in the telecommunications, banking, and hospitality industries. The study concludes that while smartphones can improve efficiency, excessive usage during work hours can harm productivity and safety.

Running head: BUSINESS DECISION MAKING
BUSINESS DECSION MAKING
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................5
Methodology....................................................................................................................................5
Data Collection Method Chosen and Justification......................................................................5
Data Analysis Method Chosen and Justification:........................................................................6
Ethical Issues:..............................................................................................................................6
Data and Analysis............................................................................................................................7
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................21
References......................................................................................................................................22

Abstract
Along with the advancement of technology, the usage of smartphone has increased manifold.
The smartphone technology that has been introduced merely a decade ago has taken a significant
place in the people’s lives. It has been noticed that the usage of smartphone has influenced the
organizational culture both in positive and negative way. It has been noticed that the usage of
smartphones and modern technologies have helped the employees to perform their tasks as well
as to communicate from remote workplaces. Along with the positive influences, usage of
smartphones has generated significant problems within the organizations. It has been noticed that
that overexposure to the smartphones during the work hours has significantly affected their
productivity. Excessive usage of smartphones, both during and after the working hours can lead
to severe addiction. This in turn is hampering their productivity. In addition to this, multiple
researches have shown that the employees who are over exposed to the smartphones are wasting
significant time in their workplaces. The research hence aims at analyzing the fact that usage of
mobile phones are providing multiple advantages to the employees. Hence, they are becoming
more addicted to the smart gadgets. However, the excessive usage of the smartphones during the
work hours are threatening the productivity and safety concerns of the organization.

Introduction
In the present times the over usage of smartphones in the workplaces has resulted into
severe unproductivity. Multiple factors can be identified that are affecting the concentration of
the employees. Often it has been noticed that the excessive attachment to the smartphones affect
the self-control of the employees to a great extent. The employees are seen as unable to ignore
even the unimportant notifications (Baker et al. 2014). This is causing severe problem in
maintaining quality of production of the organization. Hence, the usage of smartphones, now a
days are regarded as the counterproductive to the performance of the employees. Moreover, it
has been monitored that the employees find using smart phones provides them the opportunities
of smart work and this is in turn making them more efficient (Jamaluddin, Ahmad, Alias and
Simun 2015). The aim of the research is to identify the influences of smartphone on the
productivity of the employees. Moreover, the study also aims at analyzing the benefits of
smartphones while used in the workplaces.
Methodology
Data Collection Method Chosen and Justification
The research includes both primary and secondary data collection methods. However,
more importance is given on the primary data collection method. The secondary collection will
be done taking helps of governmental websites, and scholarly publications only (Choy, 2014).
Whereas, primary data will be collected surveys of the employees of various organizations.
In order to reach to the research findings, help of surveys will be taken. Survey will also
provide scopes of detailed understanding of the topic. To perform the survey, a sample size of

210 people has to be considered. The participants are selected from the telecommunication,
banking and hospitality industries. Amongst the participants, there are 100 male and 110 female
employees. In order to analyze the qualitative data collected from the survey, the thematic
approach will be adopted (Flick, 2015). The information that will be gathered from the surveys
will be analyzed in consideration with various themes, which can be directly linked to the
research topic.
Data Analysis Method Chosen and Justification:
The qualitative data analysis technique includes a range of processes where the
researchers analyzes and interprets the responses of the participants. The method of data analysis
that has been selected for the research is thematic approach. Taking up surveys will be helpful in
providing detailed insight of the issues (Panneerselvam, 2014). Moreover, the themes will be
directly related to the research topic.
Ethical Issues:
All the ethical guidelines will be adhered to throughout the entire process. During the
process of collecting primary data, no participants will be forced to provide answers of each and
every question. They are free to opt out of the survey sessions whenever they feel uncomfortable.
Each participant of the survey has given their consent willingly before asking questions (Smith,
2015). Moreover, no symbol or logo, of any company or organization has been used in the
dissertation. The fact that this research is to be done only for academic purpose is also
emphasized. Prior to the survey, all necessary permissions and authorization letters have been
taken from the university. In addition to this, in order to do secondary research, proper citations
and credits will be given. Hence, there is no chance of the paper being plagiarized. All the rules
and regulations of performing the research have been adhered to.

Data and Analysis
Gender
Sample Size
94
96
98
100
102
104
106
108
110
112
Male
Female
As is observed from the graph, the percentage of males and females are almost the same with the
percentage of females slightly higher than the males.
Age

20-25 years 26-35 years 36-45 years 46 years or above
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Male
Female
From the above graph it can be asserted that the majority of these people are young or in the
middle aged years with either equal or greater number of women in every age group.

Industry
Male Female
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Hospitality
Bank
Telecommunications
Others
As is noticed from the graph of the sample interviewed, majority of the population for both the
genders work in the hospitality sector. After this, the next major group of people from the male
par of the sample work in the banking sector whereas for women majority of the people are
working in the telecommunications sector. There is a very small part of the sample comprised
only of females who work in other sectors like aviation and research analysis.

Job Description
Male Female
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Front house
Back house
This graph again portrays that majority of the sample being questioned use their phones
while performing back office operations and not front end operations. This is the case for
both genders

Will the use of cell phones will improve your efficiency
Male Female
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Strongly agree
agree
neutral
disagree
strongly disagree
On the question as to whether the usage of cell phones will increase the efficiency of the
workers, in case of both the genders, the indicators of strongly agree and agree received the
highest number of responses followed by neutral responses. But no responses were received in
terms of disagreeing.

Number of calls per day
Male Female
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
less than 2
2 - 5 calls
6-10 calls
more than 10
As is seen from the above graph, the frequency of the number of calls varies between the two
genders but not much. In case of both the genders, maximum people make 6 to 10 calls, followed
by 2-5 calls, followed by less than 2 calls followed by more than 10 calls.

Type of Usage
Male Female
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Contact clients
On-line training
Searching information related
to work
Entertainment
From the above graph, it is thus derived and asserted that majority of the employees in the
different industries use the mobile phones for contacting clients and on-line training purposes.
However, the validity of this data needs to be tested before possible estimations can be made out
of it.

Employer should strictly ban the usage of smart phones
Males Females
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Strongly agree
agree
neutral
disagree
strongly disagree
The above graph depicts that majority of the respondents are asking to not ban the usage of
mobile phones during office hours in case of both genders. For both genders again, the degree of
disagreement is not strong. Most of the respondents disagree and not strongly disagree.

Benefits of using the Internet
Male Female
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Its accessible everywhere
I can search for information
that I need urgently
It is a way to pass my time (e.g.
Transport, queue, etc.)
It allows me to use online
utilities when I am out
From te above graph, the usage patterns of the sample of people are studied wherein, majority of
the users, use the internet for searching information quickly during work hours. However, one
cannot assess if the information is being accessed for work purposes or otherwise. Second largest
usage reason is being asserted to be the easy accessibility from everywhere which allows people
to be in touch with their social lives incessantly.

Limitations of using the Internet
Male Female
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Very slow
Website appearnces not good
enough
Expensive
Good only for limited use
From this graph it is visible that the most common usage limitation of the internet is in terms of
slow connectivity for both genders followed by imperfect website appearances on the phone
unlike computers. However, a significant proportion of the sample also thinks that usage gets
limited due to the costs. Only a very small proportion of the sample people questioned think that
it is not beneficial due to limited usage.

Disturbance from smart phone usage
Male Female
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Strongly agree
agree
neutral
disagree
strongly disagree
From the graph it can be interpreted that for both genders, employees are disturbed to different
extents because of the usage of smart phones during work hours.

Productive use of cell phone is in the benefit to the organization
Male Female
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Strongly agree
agree
neutral
disagree
strongly disagree
From the graph it can be inferred that majority of people questioned agree about the fact that
proper and productive phone usage will help in increasing the productivity of the organization.

Unproductive use of smart phone like calls or texts to and from friends and family by you will be
harmful to your organization’s performance?
Male Female
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Strongly agree
agree
neutral
disagree
strongly disagree
From the table it can be interpreted that most respondents in case of both genders, it is disagreed
that the use of phones for personal purposes during office hours will not be harmful for the firm
in which they work.

Should personal smart phone usage in staff and team meetings be allowed in certain
circumstances
Male Female
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Strongly agree
agree
neutral
disagree
strongly disagree
This graph shows that majority of people (both males and females) both agree and disagree to
different extents about whether phones should be accessible and be used for certain purposes but
only rarely.

Organisation allowing the usage of personal phone calls during breaks (like lunch/dinner breaks)
Male Female
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Yes
No
Sometimes
The graph interprets that maximum companies allow the usage of phones during breaks with a
few allowing this occasionally.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that the usage of smartphones, now a days are regarded as the
counterproductive to the performance of the employees. Moreover, it has been monitored that the
employees find using smart phones provides them the opportunities of smart work and this is in
turn making them more efficient. The usage of smart phones might better for personal needs but
not for the growth of firms as a whole.

References
Baker, S, Warburton, J, Hodgkin, S and Pascal, J 2014, 'Reimagining the Relationship between
Social Work and Information Communication Technology in the Network Society', Australian
Social Work, vol. 67, no. 4, pp. 1-12.
Choy, L.T., 2014. The strengths and weaknesses of research methodology: Comparison and
complimentary between qualitative and quantitative approaches. IOSR Journal of Humanities
and Social Science, 19(4), pp.99-104.
Flick, U., 2015. Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project.Sage.
Jamaluddin, H, Ahmad, Z, Alias, M and Simun, M 2015, 'Personal Internet Use: The Use of
Personal Mobile Devices at the Workplace', Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, vol. 172,
no. C, pp. 495-502.
Panneerselvam, R., 2014. Research methodology. PHI Learning Pvt.Ltd..
Smith, J.A. ed., 2015. Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods. Sage.