Leaving employees to their own devices: new practices in the workplace

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide useful insights on “bring your own device” (BYOD) and IT consumerization, to help organizations understand how to address their consequences. For young, tech-savvy workers, using their own devices at work represents a right, rather than a privilege, leading them to initiate a growing, yet under-researched, drive toward IT consumerization. Some companies already deploy BYOD programs, allowing employees to use personal devices for work-related activities, but other managers remain hesitant of the implications of such programs. Design/methodology/approach – To provide an overview of this growing phenomenon, this paper presents an in-depth analysis of existing literature and identifies organizational changes induced by this reversed adoption logic. A case study of Volvo reveals how one organization has coped successfully with this phenomenon. Findings – These analyses shed more light on the stakes involved in BYOD and IT consumerization, as well as the changes they imply for organizations and IT departments. Practical implications – Both BYOD and IT consumerization have deep and broad consequences for organizations, some of which are very positive, as long as the trends are well-managed and carefully addressed. Originality/value – This paper covers a topic that has attracted scant attention in prior academic research, despite widely acknowledged concerns about security and reliability in practitioner studies. By going beyond a classic discourse focused solely on the security threats of BYOD, this paper investigates both business challenges and implications associated with a reversed adoption logic.