Advances in information and collaborative technologies have recently resulted in changes in work practices. Emerging technological phenomenon called telecommuting (or telework) is changing focus from physical presence at the primary work site to what an employee can deliver. While the concept of telecommuting has been in existence for some time, the technological tools available today are making it possible to practice it more productively. The trend has steadily grown over the past two decades in the developed world.

The local job market has traditionally been tight. It is tough for employable workforce to find regular jobs what to talk of telecommuting. This trend has yet not started to pick up in corporate Pakistan. It is in this context that the telecommuting phenomenon is viewed here.

What is telecommuting? This is a work practice made possible by use of telecommunication and collaborative technologies to facilitate work at a site away from the traditional office location and environment. As per Wikipadia, Telecommuting is a term coined by Jack Nilles to describe a work arrangement in which employees enjoy flexibility in work place and time (within certain limits). In other words a set up in which the daily commute to a central place of work has been replaced by telecommunication links. The motto is that “work is something you do, not something you travel to”. A successful telecommuting program requires a management style, which is based on results and not on close scrutiny of incumbents.”

Let me hasten to add that telecommuting is not only for computing related fields as it wrongly perceived sometime. Even a semester living in Kot Lakhpat (Lahore) and stitching shirts for a foreign-based concern can be telecommuter rather than a contractual worker. Also there is a difference between freelancing, contract work and telecommuting.

The availability of bandwidth and fast Internet connections, social methodologies for balancing work control and work freedom, the perceived values and economies in telecommuting, and the opportunities and need for working collaboratively are some of the factors that should be considered to view possibilities of the telecommuting picking up in any third world country.

Let us have a look at the users’ base. The majority of the online community in our country is of medium users. This group includes everyone from those whiz kids with ambitions and degrees from IT institutions and international certifications to self-taught - experienced professionals in their own respective fields — who have learnt to use the facilities at their own later in life. These users can perceive the modern technologies as a great leveler to work and make their lives better. But they do not find very many openings when it comes to putting their skills and experience to work on ground.

Hopes are that demand driven telecommunication will pick up soon. One wishes to see it happen as soon as possible.