On Mobile Technology in Context: Exploring Police Work

Abstract

This article aims to propose elements for a theory of mobile technology use. Modern organizations heavily rely on mobile devices. Mobile technologies pervade most work and social organizations in various cultural and institutional expressions. This paper explores issues related to mobile device usage within work activities of two distinct roles in a police force in the UK to put forth a theory of mobile device usage across various work roles. It advances the idea that usage of mobile technologies is linked strongly to work conditions and that, in order to increase usage within organizations, we must employ a triangulated analysis to understand both the relation with the environment of work as well as the relation with information.