A new report by independent forecasting think tank, the
Centre for Future Studies, backed by new YouGov research, has shown
that a skills shortage is hindering ‘third generation’ flexible
working.
The effects of such a shortage could be most keenly felt within
the
SME community where three-quarters of such firms in the UK now
claim to offer their employees some form of flexible working,
according to data from BT Business.
The Centre for Future Studies report, ‘IT Skills for Flexible
Working’, says that the adoption of newly defined “third
generation” flexible working is slow due to a lack of technical
know-how across the workforce.
The report introduces definitions for different types of
flexible working with the third generation referred to as the ‘most
sophisticated and revolutionary’ flexible working, involving the
emergence of the virtual office which has total location
independence and where employees are given greater autonomy in the
way they manage and plan their work.
Even though many SMEs have successfully some form of flexible
working, few SMEs are using the third generation practices where
technology is fully integrated to create a virtual office. This may
in the main be explained by the 62% of the survey that say that
they lack the appropriate IT skills and training to properly
exploit their existing technology and therefore third generation
flexible working.
Commented Dr Frank Shaw, Foresight Director at the
Centre for Future
Studies, “Our research shows that many SMEs are operating their
IT systems on a low-tech and low-skill basis. Even though the
majority of SMEs have access to the technology required to sustain
flexible working, many are failing to exploit the benefits because
of a lack of skills. SMEs need to demonstrate their commitment to
flexible working by arming their employees with the know-how to use
the tools.”
SMEs who offer flexible working can attract and retain the very
best people to bring business success added Bill Murphy, managing
director, BT Business. “The future of competitive business for SMEs
relies on employers and employees having a good grasp of
technology. Businesses of all sizes should work together to ensure
that SMEs are equipped with the correct skills to use technology to
its full benefit.”
Other key findings from the report include: 75% of SMEs do not
provide specific IT training for remote workers; 88% of managers
have not received any training on managing remote workers and are
not familiar with the IT requirements; 25% are dissatisfied with
the basic IT skills of their workers; 41% are dissatisfied with the
advanced IT skills of their workers; 37% are dissatisfied with the
technical skills of their workers.
‘IT Skills for Flexible Working’ is available from
www.insight.bt.com/articles/IT-Skills-for-Flexible-Working