From Presence to Multipresence: Mobile Knowledge Workers’ Densified Hours

Abstract

Mobile information and communication technologies enable knowledge workers to be available 24/7 irrespective of boundaries or locations. Technology-enabled ‘multipresence’ allows workers to be simultaneously present in physical, virtual, and social spaces while working across boundaries in multiple locations and on the move. Drawing from sociomateriality and social presence theory, this chapter argues that a ‘multipresence’ strategy is selected because of ubiquitous availability expectations, the sheer volume of received emails, their potential urgency, and the pursuit of the feeling of being in control of work. The experienced benefits of multipresence include the efficient use of time and flexibility of work, whereas the perceived costs include concentration difficulties, stress, work–life balance management challenges, and decreases in productivity.