To date the project has completed a series of mobile trials (stage 1). Table 1 outlines each trial, its purpose and outcome. The results of the trials are recorded in the Mobile Staff Productivity Trial Reports document which can be downloaded here.
| Mobility Trial | University | Purpose | Description | Outcome |
| Roaming (working on the move) | GU | Achieve productivity gains in a team whose main work involves moving around campus, from job to job | The trial made use of smart phones (PDA / mobile phone) running the corporate facilities management system BEIMS and the use of wireless technologies to enable the maintenance staff to complete work orders in the field. |
Gains in individual productivity through reduced ‘back to base’ travel, improved quality of data on the BEIMS system plus further integration of mobile devices into the trial group’s work practices. |
| Employer-employee ownership of laptops | GU | Develop a viable model of shared ownership of laptops for use at work and home to increase the level of mobile technologies in use at the university | A model of shared ownership in which the university and employee co-purchased a laptop as the staff member’s primary work computer and their personal device. Five aspects of the arrangement were investigated:
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The development of a feasible model of shared ownership in relation to the financial, technical and support aspects of the scheme. However there was a low level of staff interest in the concept shown. No cost-savings for the university in the short-term. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobility Training | GU | Apply new and innovative training products to boost uptake of an existing mobile technology | Short, custom-made training videos were produced and provided to a group of executive staff in the Education Faculty to increase the uptake of the university’s desktop video conferencing software. Videos can be viewed here: www.griffith.edu.au/messaging and click on the links to: Desktop Videoconferencing and then: Training and Support |
Some evidence of increased confidence and problem-solving ability in those staff who engaged with the new video training products. Strong interest in the Division of Information Services for continued use of the new video training format. |
| Mobility Support | QUT | Develop a rapid response mechanism to improve the ability of Computer Support Officers to resolve mobility problems | The trial made use of the Right Answers knowledge management software to provide a platform for the creation and rapid transfer of knowledge relating to mobility problems for a team of computer support officers. | Gains in productivity with support resolution times and timely access to information to resolve mobility support issues. |
| Smarter Meetings | QUT | Establish improved meeting practices in a high profile Committee to realise productivity gains | A Microsoft Sharepoint site was developed to enable the Assistant Dean’s Learning and Teaching Advisory Group (ADLTAG) to store and version all meeting documents and access and edit them both during and between meetings. | Improvement in a university Committee’s document management practices through the use of a Microsoft Sharepoint site. Staff productivity increased with frequency of use. |
| Virtual Teams | QUT | Test the benefits of virtual team technology within a cross-campus team and develop models of good practice | The trial made use of the Alcatel-Lucent virtual team unified communications software which enables staff to work collaboratively in a virtual space. | Due to time pressures and configuration issues with the trial software, this trial was suspended. However, the Faculty of IT will continue to work with the trial group to implement the Alcatel virtual team software in 2008 |
Table 1: Stage 1 Project Trials