Diffusion of Telework: Myth or Reality? Some Stylized Facts on Telework Diffusion in Italian Firms

Research that has recently investigated telework adoption among companies has analyzed only marginally the evolution of this phenomenon. This study examines the telework diffusion trend among companies, trying to identify new models and contingent factors that influence its diffusion. In so doing, the paper reports empirical findings of three surveys conducted among firms in Italy in the 2005-2009 period and has three goals: assess the existence of different types of teleworker, identify drivers of telework adoption, understand whether and how the effect of such drivers changes over time, as the commoditization of ICT enables diffused organizational learning and diffusion of such practices. Specifically, drawing on a Technology-Organizational-Environmental framework, this paper shows how the antecedents of telework adoption have been changing over time and how different teleworker types exist. The managerial implications of these findings are discussed.