Randomly.Variously: Research - Food, Clothing, Shelter & The Internet: The Four Basic Life Groups

Monday, November 7, 2011

Research - Food, Clothing, Shelter & The Internet: The Four Basic Life Groups

Is the Internet a fundamental human necessity? Is a workplace with flexible mobility policies as valuable as salary?

To demonstrate the role of the network in our lives, Cisco commissioned an international workforce study of nearly 3000 people. The study revealed that one in three college students and young professionals consider the Internet to be as important as air, water, food, and shelter. The study also found that their desire to use social media, mobile devices, and the Internet more freely in the workplace is strong enough to influence their future job choice, sometimes more than salary. .

Next-Generation Views on the Internet, Mobile Devices, Social Media, and IT Policies in the Workplace

This year, the 2011 Cisco Connected World Technology Report examined two new groups of subjects:

College students
Recently employed college graduates, many working in their first full-time jobs

The findings are telling. More than half of the study's respondents could not live without the Internet and cite it as an "integral part" of their lives. In some cases, they call it more essential than owning a car, dating, and going to parties. Also, one in three would prioritize social media freedom, device flexibility, and work mobility over salary in accepting a job offer.

Influence of the New Workforce

The report findings provide insight into the mind-set, expectations, and behavior of the world's next-generation workforce and how these workers will influence:

Business communications
Mobile lifestyles
Hiring practices
Talent retention
Corporate security

The Cisco Connected World Technology Report can help your organization address how it needs to evolve to:

Attract talent
Diversify the idea marketplace
Groom the next generation of workers

Study Highlights:

Many respondents cite a mobile device as “the most important technology” in their lives
Seven of 10 employees have “friended” their managers and coworkers on Facebook
Two of five students have not bought a physical book (except textbooks) in two years
Most respondents have a Facebook account and check it at least once a day
- Half would rather lose their wallet or purse than their smartphone or mobile device.
- More than two of five would accept a lower-paying job that had more flexibility with regard to device choice, social media access, and mobility than a higher-paying job with less flexibility.
At least one in four said the absence of remote access would influence their job decisions, such as leaving companies sooner rather than later, slacking off, or declining job offers outright.

Three out of 10 feel that once they begin working, it will be their right- more than a privilege -to be able to work remotely with a flexible schedule.

The Way We Social and Entertain Ourselves:Times Have Changed