Flexible Workplace Practices in Small IT Firms: a Multiple Case Study

Western University Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository 5-24-2012 12:00 AM Flexible Workplace Practices in Small IT Firms: A Multiple Case Study Catherine E. Gordon The University of Western Ontario Supervisor Dr. Julie McMullin The University of Western Ontario Graduate Program in Sociology A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree in Doctor of Philosophy © Catherine E. Gordon 2012 Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd Part of the Work, Economy and Organizations Commons Recommended Citation Gordon, Catherine E., "Flexible Workplace Practices in Small IT Firms: A Multiple Case Study" (2012). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 561. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/561 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship@Western. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository by an authorized administrator of Scholarship@Western. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FLEXIBLE WORKPLACE PRACTICES IN SMALL IT FIRMS: A MULTIPLE CASE STUDY (Spine title: Flexible Workplace Practices in Small IT Firms) (Thesis format: Monograph) by Catherine Elizabeth Gordon Graduate Program in Sociology A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, Canada © Catherine Elizabeth Gordon 2012 THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies CERTIFICATE OF EXAMINATION Supervisor Examiners ______________________________ ______________________________ Dr. Julie McMullin Dr. Tracey Adams Supervisory Committee ______________________________ Dr. Kim Shuey ______________________________ Dr. Tracey Adams ______________________________ Dr. June Cotte ______________________________ Dr. Donna Lero The thesis by Catherine Elizabeth Gordon entitled: Flexible workplace practices in small IT firms: A multiple case study is accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy ______________________ _______________________________ Date Chair of the Thesis Examination Board ii Abstract Flexible workplace practices (FWPs), such as flex-time and working from home, facilitate employees’ work-life balance or integration and enhance their quality of work. Yet, their use is constrained by time-oriented and gendered workplace cultures. Typically past research involves either a quantitative analysis of individual-level data or a qualitative examination of a single large firm. Meanwhile in Canada, small businesses (with less than 100 employees) employ 48 percent of the total labour force in the private sector (Industry Canada, 2010). In this dissertation, I investigate the FWPs available and used at small information technology (IT) firms. Cross-firm comparisons are made with respect to this flexibility and the working time aspect of workplace culture. I then examine potential individual and structural factors that may influence the availability and use of FWPs, as well as the working time rules and behaviours of small firms. How employees experience FWPs is also explored. This research is guided by a theoretical orientation that is multi-levelled and multi-directional and incorporates the life course perspective. A multiple case study is utilized here to compare 17 small firms located in the IT industry. Data sources include 103 quantitative web-surveys, 136 in-depth interview transcripts, and 17 case study reports and snapshots, as well as eight human resource (HR) policies that existed among these firms. These data come from a larger project, Workforce Aging in the New Economy (WANE). Findings reveal three patterns among firms regarding their FWPs and working time behaviours and rules. These firms vary along gender, class, and age lines. The small business owners’ recent employment transitions and past employment experiences shaped how they ran their firms. Employees’ experiences differ accordingly. This iii research adds sociological knowledge to literature on FWPs. Findings indicate variation among knowledge-intensive firms regarding the managerial control strategies used and implications for employees. Results also suggest that similar and different processes occur in large and small firms. In order for greater flexibility to be available in small firms, both structural and individual changes need to occur. Keywords: sociology, flexible workplace practices, alternative work arrangements, employment, workplace cultures, new economy, knowledge-intensive, life course, work- life integration/balance, information technology, case study, small firms iv Acknowledgments My doctoral dissertation has not been a solitary adventure. Here I would like to acknowledge the many people who contributed to this final product. First, I would like to thank the University of Western Ontario for the financial support I received for four years. The availability of this aid made the choice to pursue doctoral studies an easy one. I consider myself fortunate to have had Julie McMullin as my doctoral supervisor. During my first two years in the Ph.D. program, I was a research assistant for her project Workforce Aging in the New Economy (WANE). Being an R.A. gave me the flexibility to focus solely on my assignments and comprehensive exams when need be and this undoubtedly saved my sanity. I went into this supervisor-student relationship knowing I was about to experience growing pains. Indeed, I did and am grateful for it. Julie’s candid remarks, advice, and patience pushed me to be a better scholar. I thank her for helping me develop my research and writing skills. At times when I felt insecure about my progress, Julie assured me I was on pace with the long process of a dissertation. I always left our meetings feeling motivated and confident. You are a great mentor Julie, thank you! My co-supervisor Tracey Adams came onto this project rather late in the analysis and writing process. At this time, I was a little worried about her feedback after already putting in a lot of time and effort. Tracey provided constructive criticisms that added depth to my research. She introduced me to scholarly work on responsible autonomy after seeing a parallel between it and some of my findings. It became a very useful concept that helped situate my work into the sociological perspectives that are the backbone to my work. Thank you Tracey for pushing me to further my analysis and to highlight my findings better. v I have had fortunate research and teaching experiences as a Ph.D. student. As a research assistant for the WANE project, I saw different stages of the research process and its complexities. The investigators, researchers, and participants of the WANE project made this dissertation possible; without their involvement and hard work, the good quality data would not be available for my use. This project was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The WANE project gave me resources (i.e., data, equipment, and office space) for my research and introduced me to many ‘aging and work’ researchers including Tammy Duerden Comeau and Emily Jovic. These intelligent women have been an inspiration to me, especially when I started on the project as a Master’s student. I am grateful for the conversations Emily and I shared about our research interests, thoughts about the future, and the hardships and successes she experienced in the dissertation process. I reflected on these conversations when it came time for me to work on my dissertation and was reassured that I was not the only one who faced difficulties. I would also like to thank Gale Cassidy and Ingrid Connidis for giving me teaching opportunities while I was a teaching assistant for them. This experience gave me the confidence I needed to get my toes wet and teach a whole semester by myself last fall. Both Gale and Ingrid have been forthright about the rewards and challenges involved in teaching university students and I enjoyed hearing these stories. I thank Ingrid for continuing to be a great mentor to me while I pursued my Ph.D. Ingrid, I appreciate all of the sage advice you have given me and the good conversations we have had about academia. vi I thank my thesis examination committee – Tracey Adams, Kim Shuey, June Cotte, and Donna Lero – for committing to this project. Their thoughtful questions were challenging and tested the depth of my knowledge. My research will greatly improve from their comments and suggestions. The staff and faculty in the sociology department at UWO have been supportive of my endeavours throughout my time in the Ph.D. program. I thank them for their encouragement and shared stories of their academic experiences. I am forever grateful for my great family and friends. I especially thank my parents Heather and Don, brother Stu and sister-in-law Amanda, Grandma and Grandpa Gordon, Grandma Goldie, and Mike. Throughout grad school, they have been my pillars of strength. They learned quickly that I often did not want to be probed about when I will graduate, although I knew my Grandma Gordon was getting quite anxious. ‘Someday’ has finally come. My family brought balance to my life and made sure I would not be ‘in the bubble’ all of the time. Mike would call me out if I, the work-life researcher, was not having an even balance of work and fun in my own life. Mike helped me think through my ideas (often by listening

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