INFORMATION OVERLOAD DUE TO THE ADOPTION OF MOBILE AND WIRELESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AND ITS CONSEQUENCES TO SALES PROFESSIONALS

Abstract

Enterprise mobility, i.e. the use of Wireless and Mobile Information Technology (WMIT) in organizational processes, is among the main issues discussed today in academia and business communities. This paper focuses on the analysis of information overload generated by the use of WMIT and the effects of this type of overload on the activities and performance of mobile salespeople. We conducted an exploratory survey with a sample of 75 salespeople working in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. This sampling occurred by convenience and followed a snowball process (the participants themselves indicated new survey respondents). The results point out that, although the use of WMIT allows for a set of benefits and improvements in respondents´ activities and performance, this use also creates information overload and a feeling of lack of privacy. The use of WMIT often generates interruptions in field work (mainly due to incoming calls and text messages), which creates difficulties for the professional to focus his/her attention on his/her regular tasks. The survey data also indicate that the issue of gender can influence the way the individuals react to interruptions caused by the use of WMIT.