In this section, we present the results of the evaluation of the supportWatch application with a focus on the adoption of supportWatch. We carefully analyze the answers of the participants of the field study in the interviews and extract enabling and inhibiting factors for the application of smartwatches within the considered scenarios by a coding procedure. Inspired by the TOEI framework (Rosli et al. 2012;
Hoong / Marthandan 2014), we categorize these influences into technological, organizational, environmental, and individual, as illustrated in Figure 24.
Figure 24. Enabling and inhibiting influences of the adoption of smartwatch-based IS to support employees inspired by the TOEI Framework
First, we examine technical aspects, starting with the major characteristics of smartwatches. For experts, mobility (T1) is uniquely advantageous. “This is the possibility to automate mobile processes through digitalization using such a small computer that you carry around on your wrist” (I-Exp1). Concerning site inspections, one participant stated: “it is exhausting to go to 165 locations that we care of, put out your laptop, write things down and inform the colleagues” (I-Exp6), implying that mobility is limited with
Use of a Smartwatch-based Information System to assist IT support employees Technological Influences
T1: Mobility T2: Incidental Use T3: Accessibility of Data T4: Homogeneity of the System T5: Embedding of the System
recently used devices. Nevertheless, smartwatches can lead to unnecessary effort in which other devices are superior: “the employees stay in a room to supervise the exams and have a desktop computer at their disposal” (I-Exp8) showing, that mobility is not required in every scenario. The incidental use (T2) is described as “I liked that you wear something on your body that you can’t forget or lose and you always have your hands free” (I-Exp8). It turned out to be useful that “I was able to take data incidentally into the system while going to the next location” (I-Exp3), and thus “this is a big time gain” (I-Exp2). During manual work, “there’s an advantage because when I disassemble a PC, I usually have to put a mobile phone out of my hand” (I-Exp3) “and so I can check the watch on the side and see what I have to do” (I-Exp2). Smartwatches make it possible to provide accessibility of data (T3). “I extremely liked the fact that you have an up-to-date overview on one screen indicating locations to be checked and who the contact persons are” (I-Exp5). Another topic is the homogeneity of the system (T4). “The possibility to have a web interface where I can work reasonably on the computer, to have a smartwatch app that is coordinated with it and work together with the other systems – that’s what I liked about it” (I-Exp3). “Before you had e-mails all the time” (I-Exp6), “and now you have all this bundled in one app” (I-Exp3). Furthermore, the embedding of the system (T5) is an influence as it is disruptive if systems do not work together and employees even have to substitute an interface in terms of “I was the interface in person and had to copy and paste everything from the one to the other system” (I-Exp6). To circumvent deficits sometimes “we have used a public instant messenger even beyond our team for missing communication functionality” (E-Exp1). “In the ideal case, I can order spare parts directly within the system” (I-Exp4). Media disruptions (T6) make workflows inefficient and error-prone. “An employee of the multimedia technology team first made a note concerning a ticket, then texted me using an instant messenger, and I forwarded it by telephone to the fault message center and returned feedback. Such circles are not effective for us” (I-Exp6). Next, experts considered device- and software-related aspects.
The device suitability (T7), on the one hand, includes the battery life, which “was at 50 % after a two-hour site inspection - the watch couldn’t last a real working day without charging” (I-Exp5). “A smartwatch should at least last one shift otherwise there is a huge time loss since charging is impractical” (I-Exp6).
On the other hand, it is required that the device is robust to physical and chemical stress as “the smartwatch has to endure the impact of an accidental collision or wet weather” (I-Exp1). A prerequisite is good connectivity (T8) which “must be guaranteed” (I-Exp8), but “many smartwatches do not support enterprise wireless protocols with custom certificates” (I-Exp7). Since “there are always locations where the signal is not sufficient” Exp4) “it would be helpful to equip the smartwatch with a SIM card” (I-Exp4). Because programming smartwatch applications is a new field, bad software quality (T9) may lead to “multiple software crashes” (I-Exp5) or situations where “the smartwatch overheats and turns off after a few minutes” (I-Exp1). For daily work, operability (T10) is an important factor. “First I was worried that it might be difficult to operate and tap on the smartwatch since the display is small, but it works relatively well” (I-Exp1) in case of “control elements were appropriately dimensioned, and I didn’t have to enter any letters or numbers” (I-Exp5). Nevertheless, “for complex or variable events the predefined options are very restrictive and text input would be great” (I-Exp8).
68 Studies: Smartwatch-based IS Supporting Mobile Employees Executing Manual Work
Second, there are organizational influences since smartwatches may have an impact on workflows. A promising characteristic of smartwatches is process support (O1), which “has already structured my way of working more effectively and I don’t have to keep so many things in mind cause the system assists me” Exp2). “The traffic light system is great since this guides me according to priorities” (I-Exp4). Situations of working in teams can benefit from collaboration (O2). “You know you’re taking a task and you are responsible for the ticket now” (I-Exp2) and “it is possible to hand over a ticket to a colleague when I couldn’t process it at a day anymore” (I-Exp2). A way to support collaboration is to enable transparency of processes. “My principal can see the progress of my work and assign new tasks to me every time” (I-Exp1), and “feedback about actual processes is beneficial for the other employees in our team as well” (I-Exp6). Smartwatches allow a fast flow of information and response, in terms of
“quickly inform people, what we’re doing about instant messenger right now” (I-Exp6). “I get instant notifications on the smartwatch and then can react directly to tasks” (I-Exp5). “If you get messages on your smartphone and don’t look at it, this can lead to difficulties - then it makes sense if a device on your wrist lights up and vibrates” (I-Exp8). Well-established workflows (O3) and habits can limit empathy for new developments. “Because I’m also used to work with the current process, there was also the worry, if we have to change everything or we can adjust it somehow” (I-Exp6). To make work more comprehensively, workflows can benefit from documentation (O4). “If there is an issue and the same happens again, we can assert that the problem still exists and apply the same solution again” (I-Exp6).
Ultimately, “we can track the frequency of events and use them for process improvements” (I-Exp7). As a last idea, corporate identity (O5) was discussed by the experts. “Smartwatches have a recognition value” (I-Exp4), and “employees should be recognizable to radiate professionalism” (I-Exp7).
Third, individual influences are taken into account. Employees have some expectations of innovation (I1) based on their private use of technology. “At home, people are completely digital and use the smartphone, and at work, they are suddenly supposed to use pen and paper” (I-Exp8). “I would like to hear more » wow, that’s cool! « in the business context” (I-Exp6). Furthermore, employees have different private IT habits (I2) and experiences that companies have to handle. “Some of my employees even cannot operate their smartphone – smartwatches are even more difficult” (I-Exp7). “There are big differences in the operating system – in private, I have an Apple Watch and an iPhone, and I think it is qualitatively not comparable” (I-Exp3). For body-connected devices, it is important to allow adequate employee participation (I3) during the introduction of smartwatches. “I would like to wear them beforehand and influence the watch strap” (I-Exp5). Other experts discussed besides “we should have individual smartwatches, which are issued and returned after the shift” (I-Exp7) a company smartwatch or a bring your own device model. Strongly connected is the well-being (I4) of employees. “I have a problem wearing wristwatches - it is just terrible for me, I get anxiety feeling, and a plastic strap is just an additional factor” (I-Exp5). To get employees quickly used to a new system, learnability (I5) is a crucial factor. “It is important that it is as simple and self-descriptive” (I-Exp8). “First, I had to concentrate a lot on the operation of the smartwatch, but after a little, I get used to it” (I-Exp2).
Finally, there are environmental influences. Data security (E1) is important for companies to store and transmit valuable data. “If a watch gets lost - especially outside the company premises, the data should not be directly readable, and password protection would also be good” (I-Exp7). “I want our data to remain in our network and be encrypted. Use the mobile network only if necessary” (I-Exp7). Also, private data should be secured, and “for me, a strict separation of professional and private data is necessary” (I-Exp5). A crucial concern for many employees is privacy (E2), indicating fear of the abuse of personal data and surveillance. “You have to deliberate which personal data you are allowed to collect and what purpose this makes. This must be negotiated with the works council” (I-Exp7). There are neutral valuations like “I don’t know if it would change the way I work, but it would keep me thinking about” (I-Exp3). More dismissive ones like “in principle no, because it is a technical device that is connected to my body that is over the top for me” (I-Exp5) and “this fusion of internet and body, creates a feeling of insecurity for me” (I-Exp5). Others stated: “I’m being watched 24 hours a day from whatever institutions via my mobile phone anyway - I don’t care about that at all” (I-Exp1). In many companies sourcing (E3) is a decisive factor since “money is always rare in the corporate context” (I-Exp8).