Device Democracy Key to a More Productive and Happier Workforce

New consumer research commissioned by VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, reveals that companies with outdated and rigid IT policies that do not support the use of personal mobile devices and applications could be at risk of losing out on employee productivity and job satisfaction.

The local results of the 10-country VMware New Way of Work study found that respondents who used their personal mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) and Web-based software/applications to complete work tasks saw significant boosts in efficiency (73 percent) and effectiveness (74 percent).

Said Laurence Si, Country Manager, VMware Malaysia, “Although some companies are trying to control employees’ access to the corporate network and data via ‘illegitimate’ devices, enlightened businesses that recognize this trend is already happening and modernize their IT policies stand to build a happier, more effective and agile workforce.”

Ignore Employee Preferences at Your Own Peril

Of the 209 Malaysian respondents surveyed, 82 percent said they bring their personal mobile devices to work and 91 percent said their companies are aware of this. However, 69 percent of respondents indicated their IT departments do not support personal devices and cannot use them effectively in the workplace.

89 percent of respondents reported that their companies have IT policies that restrict them from connecting their personal portable device to the corporate network. Working under such restrictions, in turn, reportedly led to lowered efficiency levels (44 percent) and effectiveness (27 percent).

Device Democracy a Source of Talent Attraction and Retention

The consumer study also unveiled insights around job satisfaction and stress levels that employers should pay attention to.

For example, 71 percent of Malaysian employees interviewed said they are happier at work when given the freedom to use the technology of their choice, while 58 percent reported being less stressed at work when using the technology of their choice.

When considering potential employers, 69 percent of Malaysian respondents viewed companies that provide more technological freedom as more progressive and dynamic and were employers of choice.

“The VMware New Way of Work Study demonstrates that the world of corporate IT is rapidly changing. Cloud computing and mobile working are redefining how people choose to work, and the potential benefits to employee productivity and happiness make a strong business case for companies to rethink their IT infrastructure and policies,” said Si.

“At VMware, we have long seen these trends coming, and continue to deliver end-user computing solutions that enable organizations take full advantage of virtualization and cloud computing. This can create a seamless IT environment that benefits employees and employers alike, regardless of the devices and applications being used,” concluded Si.

About the VMware New Way of Work Study

The VMware New Way of Work Study was commissioned by, and conducted on behalf of, VMware by Acorn Marketing & Research Consultants in January and February 2012. A total of 2,077 people between the ages of 18-64 years old were interviewed. All the participants work in organizations with more than 1,000 staff globally, and were at work for at least 15 hours or more a week. The survey was conducted in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, China, Japan and South Korea.