Comparing teleworker performance, satisfaction, and retention in the Joint Interoperability Test Command.

摘要

Telework is becoming one of the best options available to help organizations gain a competitive advantage. When management considers the fluctuating cost of fuel, emphasis on employee flexibility, and need to retain the most-qualified workforce, telework can be advantageous for solving problems. This quantitative comparative (non-experimental) study was conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis test to address the problem that management has in knowing the extent of any differences across the four teleworker groups' (i.e., independent variable) and work performance, job satisfaction, and employee retention (i.e., dependent variables). Once known, this information can lead to better employee placement and improved organizational effectiveness and readiness. Participants included 81 (i.e., answered every question) Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) government civilian teleworkers from (a) Arizona, (b) Maryland, and (c) Virginia. The teleworker groups included general population (i.e., all job categories except information system testers) ad hoc and recurring and JITC information system testers, ad hoc and recurring. Survey data was collected, analyzed, and documented with descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation that identified demographic percentages using 63 tables and nine figures. Results showed statistically significant differences in 17 of the 55 survey questions across the groups. This study also showed an example of how academia and federal agencies can work together, to solve practical problems. Future studies can help organizations identify group differences leading to positive changes that impact strategic objectives and policies, while possibly generalizing externally.