The QUT and Griffith University Mobile Technologies and Practices websites will be launched on Thursday 26 February 2009.
In 2006, QUT and Griffith University jointly received project funding from the federal government’s Workplace Productivity Program to look at ways to improve productivity through the increased use of mobile practices and technologies in the performance of administrative activities by academic, professional and research staff.
The Griffith-QUT Mobile Staff Productivity project (MSP) commenced in 2007 with a focus on the people, policy, process and technology enablers associated with the exploitation of mobility and is scheduled to complete early 2009.
The objective of the project is to improve productivity through the use of technologies that enable anytime, anywhere connection. The focus of the project is on the use of laptops, PDAs, and Smartphones (incorporating tele/videoconferencing over these devices) for administrative activities in the two universities, particularly large and small scale meetings. The project does not address teaching and learning activities or research practices.
Specific objectives include:
- Increasing employee capabilities for productive use of mobile devices in the workplace.
- Implementing mobile technology platforms with high levels of reliability and availability to support ubiquitous use.
- Developing viable support models (incorporating the consideration of a shared services model between the two institutions).
- Developing innovative models of equipment ownership e.g., shared employer/employee ownership.
Outputs will include:
- Personal Productivity Training Packages covering technical literacy and work practice reform.
- Evaluation tool for determining the impact of new practices on individual productivity and committee performance.
- The development of a set of selection criteria for mobile device procurement (including Smartphones) that enhance individual and committee productivity.
- A mobile technology Standard Operating Environment (SOE) and Preferred Supplier Arrangements.
Project Approach
There are three streams of activity encompassed within the project
Research
- Literature search of best practice
- Snapshot of current mobility levels at both universities
- Development of a mobile productivity model
- Ongoing publications
Mobility framework
- Analysis of staff mobility needs & the development of a set of mobile profiles
- Creation of a corporate framework to manage mobile devices, application portfolio, security, support and training
- Mainstreaming of the new framework across both universities and measurement of gains
- Transfer of knowledge to other universities
Mobility trials / mainstreaming
- Conduct trials of new mobile work practices and technologies
- Implementation of the most successful outcomes