Is the Internet a fundamental human necessity? Is a workplace with flexible mobility policies as valuable as salary?
We asked nearly 3,000 college students and young professionals these questions in an international workforce study that examines:
- The behavior and expectations of the world's next generation of workers
- How their demands for information access are changing business communications and the future of work
The Cisco Connected World Technology Report provides insight into challenges that companies face as they strive to balance current and future employee and business needs amid expanding mobility capabilities, security risks, and technologies.
Among other findings, the 2011 Cisco Connected World Technology Report revealed:
- One of every three college students and young employees believes the Internet is as important as air, water, food, and shelter.
- Two of five said they would accept a lower-paying job that had more flexibility with regard to device choice, social media access, and mobility than a higher-paying job with less flexibility.
- Regarding security-related issues in the workplace, seven of ten employees admitted to knowingly breaking IT policies on a regular basis, and three of five believe they are not responsible for protecting corporate information and devices.
Next-Generation Influence on Workplace Policies
The findings are telling. The 2020 workplace is going to look a lot different from where we work today, as the next generation of global workers enters the workplace with expectations and demands about how, when, and where they access information. The Cisco Connected World Technology Report shows how organizations can start preparing now to deal with the demands that will be placed on their IT and HR departments by this new workforce.
Get More Information
- Learn Methodology (PDF - 66 KB)
- Gain insight on the expectations and demands of the next-generation workforce.
- Read All Findings from the 2011 Cisco Connected World Technology Report (PDF 4.1 MB)
Chapter 1
- Read Press Release
- Read Press Deck (PDF - 672 KB)
- View Chapter 1 Infographic
Chapter 2
- Read Press Release (PDF - 301 KB)
- Read Press Deck (PDF - 592 KB)
- View Chapter 2 Infographic
Chapter 3
- Read Press Release (PDF - 356 KB)
- Read Press Deck (PDF - 538 MB)
- View Chapter 3 Infographic:
Hundreds of Insights, One Report
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In 2010, Cisco commissioned the Connected World Technology Report study to look at the challenges that organizations face in addressing workforce and business needs in an increasing mobile and socially interactive world. The survey examined employee behavior and IT policy with particular attention to social networking and corporate mobility, and the impact of both on IT security.
The global study measured employee and IT professional behavior, policy, and opinion. The survey included 100 respondents from each of 13 countries, resulting in a survey pool of 2600 people. The 13 countries included the United States, Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Russia, India, China, Japan, and Australia.
2010 Highlights
- Participants preferred jobs with workplace flexibility and remote access at lower salary to less-flexible jobs at higher salary.
- Nearly half with remote access worked up to three extra hours a day; a quarter worked four or more hours.
- Three of every five employees (60 percent) believed it was unnecessary to be in the office to be productive. This was especially true in Asia and Latin America.
- Two of every three employees (66 percent) expected IT to allow the use of any device -- personal or company-issued -- to access corporate data anywhere, at any time.
- More than two-thirds believed their companies' IT policies could be improved, and at least 41 percent said they bend those policies to meet their needs.
2010 Resources
- Video: Cisco Connected World Technology Report Highlights
- Cisco Connected World Technology Report , Part I
- Cisco Connected World Technology Report , Part II
- Cisco Connected World Technology Report , Part III
- Employees Want Mobility and Flexibility - Is IT Ready?
- Your New Comp Package: Good Salary, Decent Dental, and Outstanding Flexibility
- The Office Is Empty: Where Did Everybody Go?
- When Your Employee Doesn't Want to Come to the Office
Watch TV broadcast coverage of the Cisco Connected World Technology Report. See coverage on Bloomberg TV and reactions from major media markets around the country.