Working using new technology

Teleworking is not a profession. It is a work method which consists of carrying on professional activities on a remote basis, using new information and communications technology. And, like any method, it can be learned.

Certain psychological characteristics such as initiative, self-discipline, autonomy, the ability to work as part of a team, good communication or availability for change are a good start for those wishing to use the method.

New skills must be acquired

But the rest has to be learned. Intuition helps, but overcoming distances means acquiring new knowledge, different attitudes and behaviour patterns, knowing how to find technical resources and assistance, becoming part of virtual teams, mastery of a number of communications techniques, efficient management of information, a different way of organising work and, in particular, obtaining results. A good level of new information technology is also essential.

In short, a number of SKILLS must be acquired which are not related to any particular profession, but rather to a new way of working where coincidence in time and space has disappeared.

Identifying these SKILLS, determining how to acquire them through continuous training programmes and how they may be officially acknowledged at official levels is the challenge taken up by eWork LearNET.