Digital economy: maintaining family rituals when working away from home

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Digital economy: maintaining family rituals when working away from home

The way we work is fundamentally changing, with a rise in mobile working – people who travel away from home for long or short periods of time. Some people, such as lorry drivers, may be away from home as part of their normal working life, while other workers may have occupations that require them to travel and represent their organisation regionally, nationally or even internationally. For mobile workers and their families, this kind of travel can have consequences for daily family life. Alongside an interdisciplinary research team, made up of academics from across the UK, BU’sProfessor Adele Ladkin has investigated the consequences of mobile working and what it means for family life.

Family Rituals 2.0 is an interdisciplinary research project, drawing on expertise from a number of universities across the UK. The project considered work-life balance for mobile workers and their families, in the context of our digital age. It stemmed from the researchers’ interest in discovering how being away from home affects people’s ability to participate in family activities – or rituals. Family rituals could be celebrations such as birthdays or anniversaries, or simply day-to-day activities such as reading bedtime stories to children. These are the kinds of things that a mobile worker might miss out on while away from home and technology could enable families to continue to enjoy their meaningful family activities even when they’re not together.

There were three stages to the project; the first involved interviews with Human Resource Managers from organisations that employ mobile workers. The second stage was talking to the mobile workers themselves and their families, and the third stage of the project was design-led ethnographic research with five families. In this final stage, the designers and computer scientists designed a prototype technology, which lived with the family as a mechanism to explore the consequences of the absence of a family member and how to maintain important family rituals.

Professor Ladkin’s involvement in the project came about because of her expertise in tourism employment. Business travel is an important sector, and many employees in tourism are routinely mobile due to the nature of their jobs, for example in the case of airline personnel, tour guides and cruise ship workers.

“I think the one thing we look at a lot in tourism is the idea of employees’ health, wellbeing and the work-life balance. It is widely recognised that tourism work can involve long hours, and can involve travel away from home, so an understanding of people’s working environments and how that might impact on their wellbeing has been helpful in this project,” says Professor Ladkin. “My research experience in qualitative data collection and analysis through interviews and diaries also came in useful for this project.”

The team working on the project consisted of sociologists, computer scientists and designers. They came from theUniversity of the West of England, Newcastle University, The Royal College of Art, and Bournemouth University. Between them, the team had a wide range of experience and knowledge, which benefitted everyone, but also presented its challenges at times. “Sometimes it was a challenge to understand our different approaches,” says Professor Ladkin. “For example a designer works in a different way to how I, as a social scientist, would work and both are different again to the way a computer scientist works. We have very different terminology, so we had to work out what each other meant!”

The research results showed that employers were aware of the importance of work-life balance for their employees and had policies in place to support this within their organisations. However, the research also showed that there was a gap in HR policies for managing the work-life balance of mobile workers. “There were no separate HR guidelines to address the different issues that people
who are travelling may encounter, such as physical travel fatigue or managing absence from home and the workplace,” says Professor Ladkin. “There was a degree of awareness of some of the potential issues but no specific 0mechanisms in place to help support the work-life balance of mobile workers.”

Through interviews with the mobile workers and their families, the team learned about the importance of connecting to home and the implications of this for fostering work-life balance. “Our findings to date have centred around understanding what it means to be absent from family during the course of work, how technology can mediate absence, and what organisations might consider to facilitate the work-life balance of mobile workers,” explains Professor Ladkin. “We are particularly keen to take our findings back to organisations who may be seeing a growth in their numbers of mobile workers.”

“We feel there is more work to be done and will be seeking further funding to help continue the research,” continues Professor Ladkin. “We were quite ambitious with our aims and it would be really beneficial to have more time to research this issue.”

The research was presented as part of the London Design Festival in September 2015 and it was also on display at the Science Gallery in Dublin for the ‘Homesick’ exhibition about technology and communication.

Further information on the project can be found at http://familyrituals2-0.org.uk/ 

The team would like to acknowledge the support of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council as funders of this research.

This article appeared in the 2016 Bournemouth Research Chronicle. Download a copy of the magazine, or view the articles online.

VeggiEAT: Championing Vegetable Consumption Throughout Europe

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A collaborative team from Bournemouth University, led by nutrition expert Professor Heather Hartwell, are hoping to change eating habits, by encouraging healthier eating and championing vegetable consumption through a Europe-wide research project called VeggiEAT. From an early age, children are taught about the importance of eating fruit and vegetables, but a quick glance at most nutrition-based news stories will paint a very different picture, a rise of junk food, fast-food consumption and obesity. Adequate vegetable consumption is fundamental to a healthy balanced diet, however EU compliance with dietary guidelines is poor and there is a notable lack of research in this area.

Professor Hartwell (pictured) confirms that we don’t eat the recommended 5 portions per day. She told NutritionInsight: “The majority of Europeans do not meet the WHO recommendations of 400g per day with Denmark (316g) and UK (258g) having one of the lowest fruit and vegetable intakes respectively in Europe, and children over 5 years of age having particularly poor levels whereas the French population achieve 342g. This is despite EU policy efforts focused on increasing consumption at the population level across the lifespan.”

Digital Competence Project

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The eTourismLab is really pleases to launching the digital competence benchmarking project

with British Hospitality Association, Tripadvisor.com, Bournemouth Accommodation and Hotel Association (BAHA)

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The pilot project will engage postgraduate students, Professor Dimitrios Buhalis and Dr Philip Alford from Bournemouth University, with BHA, BAHA and Tripadvisor to work with local hotel companies in Bournemouth to benchmark their digital competence in four particular areas, namely :

  • Online presentation – Web 1.0 proposition
  • Distribution Mix and Strategy
  • Social Media Strategy and engagement – Web 2.0 Engagement
  • Reputation Management
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VisitBritain’s Chairman, Christopher Rodrigues CBE guest lecture on Great Britain Tourism Strategy

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 It was a great privilege to welcome Christopher Rodriques Chairman of Visit Britain to the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Bournemouth University to talk about the Great Britain Tourism Strategy.

Christopher delivered a fascinating lecture covering all aspects of tourism planning and development and had a very interesting discussion with our students as well as local tourism industry and the CoastalBID about tourism developments and future opportunities.

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Christopher became Chairman of VisitBritain in January 2007. He has recently been appointed Chairman of the Port of London Authority (effective 1 January 2016) and is also Chairman of Openwork LLP and The Almeida Theatre. He is a Trustee of the National Trust and is a Vice Chairman of the World Travel and Tourism Council. In August 2013 he became the Chairman of the British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association. His past experience includes time as President and Chief Executive of Visa International between 2004 – 2007 and Chief Executive of Thomas Cook between 1988 – 1996. https://www.visitbritain.org/christopher-rodrigues-cbe

EPSRC Balance Network Event: “Going off the Grid” Can employees really switch off during travel? –

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Do we ever switch off our phones on holidays? Dr Barbara Neuhofer and Prof Adele Ladkin hosted an EPSRC Balance Network funded event last week looking into work life balance in the digital age. Fantastic speakers and panelists discussed challenges and solutions on how we can manage technologies in the 21st century and can go ‘off the grid’ if we wanted to!

Do we ever switch off our phones? Are we constantly checking emails while we are on holiday? Do we pay more attention to our online social networks that our current surroundings? Should we take a rest from 24/7 connection?

These were just some of the questions that were raised and debated during a recent half-day seminar exploring the implications of technology on our work-life balance.

Organised by Dr. Barbara Neuhofer and Professor Adele Ladkin from the Department of Tourism and Hospitality, the seminar was funded by the EPSRC’s ‘Balance Network’, a network of researchers interested in understanding and exploring work-life balance in the digital age. The event specifically sought to understand how technology affects our ability to take a rest from work, and how we might better understand the implications of the 24/7 culture for both individuals and organisations.

Dean of Faculty of Management, Prof Keith Wilkes with Event Organisers Dr Barbara Neuhofer Prof Adele Ladkin

Leisure travel, grounded in the motivation of escapism and a break from the mundane, has traditionally had the purpose of relaxing and refreshing our minds and bodies, however, are we still able to do this? Could it be that the switching of from technology has become the greatest luxury of the 21st Century?

The seminar consisted of two activities.

First, seven expert speakers were invited to present on a range of different topics, as listed below:

  • Prof Dimitrios Buhalis (Director eTourismLab, Bournemouth University): To connect or not to connect: Is this a question?
  • Celina Goddard (Design and Strategy Consultant, WeAreExperience London): The future is a connected life: Wearable technologies and ubiquitous connectivity.
  • Dr Juliet Jain (Senior Research Fellow, University of the West of England): Connected or disconnected? Technology, travel and wellbeing.
  • Dr Raian Ali (Head of Research in Computing and Informatics) and Prof Keith Phalp (Professor of Software Engineering, Bournemouth University): Technology addiction: Should digital media react against digital addiction, and how?
  • Svenja Schlachter (PhD Researcher Occupational Psychology, University of Surrey): Switching off our electronic devices during non-work time: Saving their batteries and recharging our own.
  • Karen Butters (Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing, Bournemouth University): The role of the employer in helping to manage work-life balance within a culture of increasing mobile technologies.
  • Graham Wason (Co-founder All being well): Technology, travel, wellbeing – and the meaning of happiness?

 

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EPSRC Balance Network Event Speakers and Organisers

 

After the break, the remaining part of the afternoon was taken up by a panel discussion, comprised of the following speakers:

Claire Steiner (Freelance HR Professional): Technology is a double-sided coin: The challenge of achieving a healthy work-life balance.
- Alice Rook (Liz Lean PR Account Executive and Twitter fanatic): The importance of switching off from social media, . Dr Sue Thomas (Author of Technobiophilia and Visiting Fellow, Bournemouth University): Ideas, apps, books and devices for nature and wellbeing in the digital age, Prof Dimitrios Buhalis and Karen Butters

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Panel Discussion

This generated some lively debates, with audience questions being directed to the panel. At the end of the session, each panellist gave concluding remarks about what they felt was important in relation to the topic. A consensus formed around the idea that “going off the grid’ was about choice, and included in this managing expectations about acceptable limits to technology use.

Event recordings & media coverage can be accessed here:

Event recording with slides: Event Recording

Media coverage can be accessed here:

Going off the grid – BBC South Today

Can we really switch off when we’re permanently connected asks a conference at BU. Dr Barbara Neuhofer and Professor Dimitrios Buhalis are interviewed.

Can we really switch off? – BBC Radio Solent (begins at 1:22:20)

Dr Barbara Neuhofer talks about the benefits and dangers of always being connected with technology.

– See more at: http://blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk/etourismlab/#sthash.8CrykKTA.dpuf

See more at: http://blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk/etourismlab/#sthash.8CrykKTA.dpuf

Invitation to Bournemouth University FoodBIZ event – Food@BU 18th May 2016

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Dear colleagues, 

This is an invitation from Professor Heather Hartwell to attend FoodBiz – the Food Research and Innovation @ BU celebration, on Wednesday 18th May 2016 at Bournemouth University, Executive Business Centre (7th floor).

This FREE event brings together industry and academic partners to celebrate our Food Research and Innovation in the Department of Tourism and Hospitality at Bournemouth University to share findings from research and to take ideas forward within the health and wellness agenda. Guest speakers include industry professionals, and an update on the latest research from Bournemouth University.

The event is aimed at businesses and organisations in a range of sectors including food, tourism, hospitality and those associated with nutrition/health operating locally, nationally and internationally.

 The programme themes include:

Food Innovation – Chair Professor Heather Hartwell

The research and innovation activities at BU exploit complementary competences and enable the sharing ofknowledge and ideas from research to market (and vice-versa).

Food@BU4U – Chair Dr Sean Beer

How can the university benefit not only the user but also the foodservice industry, creating opportunities for a business to become aligned with a lifestyle product, and as a result corporate health, in a way which is novel, innovative and demonstrates excellence in science?

Food science at work – Chair Crispin Farbrother

Bournemouth University’s research in food is international, broad and multidisciplinary. 

We look forward to welcoming you and co-creating the future of Food Research and Innovation.

Please see the agenda and register for FREE here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/foodbiz-tickets-19780427792 

Follow us on Twitter: @EU_FoodSMART and visit www.foodsmartproject.net foodsmart

For more information please contact: Carmen Martins: cmartins@bournemouth.ac.uk  

 

Fusion Investment Fund- Santander and Erasmus funding still available

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We are excited to let you know that we still have Santander and Erasmus grants up for grabs open to all staff including Professional Services. The next committee review date is 23rd November 2015.

Santander Funding

The purpose of Santander funding is to support individual staff mobility and networking with other Santander Universities in the development of research, education and/or professional practice projects. There are limited funds available. Please find a link to the list of the institutions that are part of the Santander University network and also the applicable criteria below:

  • Priority will be given to overseas travel rather than travel to another UK institution
  • Ideally awards of £5k will be made but at least priority should be given to applications close to (but not more than) that amount
  • Priority will be given to staff who intend to study or carry out research.
  • Funds should be used before the end of the academic year
  • Travel for student recruitment purposes would not normally be funded

Erasmus staff mobility

Erasmus funding supports staff who would like to train or teach in another European higher education institution. These mobility grants are provided to contribute towards subsistence and travel and the maximum grant available is €1000.

Applications

To meet our next committee review date please submit your applications for Santander or Erasmus by 23rd November at 5pm. For all the policy documents, Fund FAQs and information about applying, please visit the FIF website

Please direct all initial enquiries to the Fusion Investment Fund Co-ordinators Sue Townrow and Sarah Olliffe at Fusion Fund.