Monipaikkaisen työn valmiudet ja käytännöt : tutkimushankkeen loppuraportti

The rise of multi-location work has changed working life in a permanent way. Therefore, the aim of the research project was to help Finnish workplaces to develop multi-location working by providing research-based information. The project introduced an evaluation and development model for workplaces to assess and develop their capabilities to multi-location working and explored good practices for matching organisational goals and employee needs. The project was carried out as a multimethod study with ten organisations.

The study developed a framework for presenting the capabilities of multi-location work, based on socio-technical theory and previous research on multi-locational work and related areas. This framework was applied at different stages of the study through a self-assessment of the maturity for multilocation work in ten organisations, as well as in interviews on practices of how multi-location work is arranged, and employee surveys in the target organisations.

The evaluation and development model developed in the study was found to be effective and was published to be used in the workplaces. The results highlighted the need for agreeing on multi-locational working practices in work communities and teams.

The conclusion of the study was that it is not enough to develop individual practices to support multi-locational working. What is required from the management of organisations is, a clear direction on how work is conducted in terms of time and place, based on the objective of the organization. Multi-location work is holistic. Development should take place in a dialogue between management and employees at all levels, and through cross-functional cooperation. Responsiveness and the ability to experiment with new ways of working that meet the needs of the workplace are required. In sum, multi-location work requires continuous development.