A new survey suggests that not all 16-24 year olds are comfortable with the idea of smartphones and tablet devices in the workplace. Image courtesy of: Sanja Gjenero/rgbstock.com
IT decision makers are deploying consumer devices in the workplace to cater for a growing percentage of Generation Z employees, when they are actually happy to conform and use business-led devices, according to research commissioned by IT infrastructure provider
Computacenter.
The research, conducted among 200 IT decision makers and 1,000 Generation Z workers across the UK, highlights that almost half of organisations with over 25 percent of 16-24 year olds are more likely to cater for at least one consumer device in the workplace, despite 37 percent of Generation Z respondents stating they would rather have a
Blackberry, compared to only 23 percent who would prefer an
Apple device.
Pierre Hall, Solutions Director at Computacenter, commented: “IT decision makers are being swayed by their perceptions of Generation Z’s needs. Just because they have grown up with instant messaging and hi-tech gadgets in their social life doesn’t mean they want to bring them to work. This research clearly identifies that Generation Z actually cares more about the right tools to do the job than BYOD.
“Senior employees have more disposable income and want to treat themselves to the latest devices. The new iPad sold over 3 million units in its first day, with no doubt the majority of sales coming from the affluent 30 plus market. It appears that it’s older employees who are keen on integrating these into their working lives, whether it has a positive effect on their work or not.”
Brand over device
While consumer devices can be a benefit and open up different approaches to working, half (51 percent) of Generation Z respondents believe that they can be counterproductive and cause them to lose focus. In contrast, nearly three quarters (79 percent) of IT decision makers state their productivity actually improves with these devices.
Hall continued: “In terms of technology in the workplace, it’s much more about having a slim, light and fast device, rather than its functionality. Senior decision makers are bringing their favourite device to the office and assuming that Generation Z want to do the same.
“It is clear that the increase in mobile devices is changing the way organisations work and creating a lot of headaches for businesses. To respond to these changes, it is critical that they create a Contemporary Workplace whose sole purpose is to deliver to the business, increasing efficiencies, reducing costs and boosting flexibility.”
Additional findings include:
- Executive Decision: 59 percent of Generation Z believe that when entering the workplace it is the senior executives who are insisting on using consumer devices such as the iPhone and iPad
- Device Defence: 58 percent of IT decision makers believe that unmanaged consumer devices present a huge security and compliance challenge to the organisation.