Work/life balance and smartphones: Can a smartphone make a difference?

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PROJECT REPORT
on
“Work/Life Balance and Smartphones:
Can a Smartphone make a difference?”
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for
the award of
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
to
ASIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, NOIDA
Affiliated to Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut
SUBMITTED TO: Dr. Arif Anwar SUBMITTED BY: Bhitesh Arora
FACULTY SUPERVISOR NAME STUDENT NAME
(FACULTY GUIDE) 180398105045
ASIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS BATCH: BBA 2018-2021
ASIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
PLOT A-2, SECTOR 125, NOIDA –
201303

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CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the project report titled “Work/Life Balance and
Smartphones: Can a Smartphone make a difference?” is submitted to Asian
School of Business, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award
of the Bachelor of Business Administration, and is an original work by
Bhitesh Arora, 180398105045. The project has been done under my
supervision & guidance and the project have not formed the basis for the
award of any degree / diploma or other similar title to any candidate.
SIGNATURE SIGNATURE
Internal Examiner (Project Guide) External Examiner (Viva expert)

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DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the project titled “Work/Life Balance and
Smartphones: Can a Smartphone make a difference?” is an original piece
of research work carried out by me under the guidance and supervision of
Dr. Arif Anwar. The information has been collected from genuine &
authentic sources. The work has been submitted in partial fulfilment of
Bachelor of Business Administration of Asian School of Business.
Bhitesh Arora
Date:
Place: Asian School of Business, Noida

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my gratitude towards Dr. Arif Anwar for guiding me
throughout the project titled “Work/Life Balance and Smartphones: Can a
Smartphone make a difference?” I thank all participants for their positive
support and guidance.
I feel thankful to the college staff for giving me such a big opportunity.
Without their support and suggestions, this project would not have been
completed.
Bhitesh Arora
180398105045

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Smartphone usage amongst the general public has risen dramatically only
in the last 2 to 5 years. With the introduction of the smartphone users have
found many benefits, such as access to apps for news, public service
information, entertainment as well as constant access to their email, social
networking sites and the internet. This project aims to examine the effect
this has had on working people and their ability to maintain a healthy work
life balance.
The project presents a brief history of the development of the smartphone
and its subsequent integration into the everyday life of workers. It also
presents some theories on what constitutes a healthy work life balance
alongside some research into existing literature to determine whether people
feel their smartphones have enhanced or presented challenges in their ability
to achieve this.
The project asserts that the smartphone has afforded both individuals and
organizations great opportunities to improve performance and service in
their workplace environments.
However, both organizations and some individuals have yet to establish
acceptable boundaries in relation to the use of smartphones for work-based
activities outside of legal working hours.
At last, we’ll get to know whether smartphones can help in maintaining the
balance between work and life.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Certificate .................................................................................................. 2
Declaration................................................................................................. 3
Acknowledgements .................................................................................. 4
Executive Summary ................................................................................. 5
Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................... 7-12
Chapter 2: Literature Review........................................................... 13-33
Chapter 3: Research Methodology................................................... 34-36
Chapter 4: Data Analysis and Interpretation ................................. 37-43
Chapter 5: Findings, Conclusion and Recommendations.............. 44-47
Bibliography....................................................................................... 48-49

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Smartphone
In order to have a clear understanding of this technology
called Smartphone that I will be referring to in this study,
here is provided a brief overview of what that technology
is all about. Think back to your first cell phone, and if it’s
not that different than phones you can get today then go
ask your parents about their first cell phone and perhaps
you will discover the “brick phone” a cell phone as large as a brick that
people were happy to carry around as it afforded them the ability to go
places and not miss calls. As technology has advanced it has brought
us not only lighter and cheaper phones but also phones with more
abilities, email, web surfing, calendars, texting, social networking, and
on it goes. The newest wave of technology is what is known as the
Smartphone. A quick web search provides us with a few definitions:
• A mobile phone that performs many of the functions
of a computer, typically having a touchscreen
interface, internet access, and an operating system
capable of running downloaded apps. (Oxford
Languages and Google, 2021).
• A smartphone is a portable device that combines
mobile telephone and computing functions into one
unit. They are distinguished from feature phones by
their stronger hardware capabilities and extensive

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mobile operating systems, which facilitate wider
software, internet (including web browsing over
mobile broadband), and multimedia functionality
(including music, video, cameras, and gaming),
alongside core phone functions such as voice calls
and text messaging. (Wikipedia, 2021).
• A smartphone is a mobile phone that includes
advanced functionality beyond making phone calls
and sending text messages. Most smartphones have
the capability to display photos, play videos, check
and send e-mail, and surf the Web. Modern
smartphones, such as the iPhone and Android based
phones can run third-party applications, which
provides limitless functionality. (TechTerms, 2021).
Nowadays smartphones are not just for calling and messaging, they
have a lot of features which can help in making the user’s life easier.
• Make and receive phone calls text messages.
• Take, show, and store pictures and video.
• Browse the Internet, and send and receive e-mail.

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• GPS capability for location and navigation.
• Record and play audio and music.
• Display time and date and other functions such as alarm clock,
stopwatch, and timer.
• Display weather and temperature information.
• Voice dictation and take notes.
• Virtual assistant using Siri, Google Assistant, or Cortana.
• Access utilities, such as a flashlight, e-book reader, and
calculator.
The literature review will present an overview of the development of
the Smartphone. It also examines the effects the introduction is
perceived to have had on users. There is an abundance of media
articles which focus on the effect increased use of the internet and
now the introduction of smartphones is having on the work life
balance of employees in the information society. Academic research
is also beginning to emerge in this area. The literature review
presents some detail on what some researchers believe constitutes a
healthy work-life balance. The smartphone is a relatively new
addition to the life of most people having only become widely
available to the general consumer in the last five years. This makes
it difficult to ascertain exactly effect this will have on people and
society in general. The literature review presents an overview of
some of the initial effects noted by the media and academics. It also
examines how smartphones have impacted the work-life balance.

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Work Life Balance
The concept in this
thesis that is critical
to understand is the
concept of work/life
balance. Work/life
balance also
researched as work–
home conflict, work–
family conflict, and
also work– life
balance is a widely researched topic. With just a simple search via
Google on “Work Life Balance” we are returned millions of hits, which
would tell us that this is something most people will run across, or have
to deal with at some time in their lives. One of the results that pops up is
Wikipedia who provides us with a definition, history, and current issues.
The next few hits tell us a bit more about how important this topic is:
Work Life Balance: Training, Work-life balance: Ways to restore
harmony and reduce stress, 5 Tips for Better Work- Life Balance,
Employers and Work-Life Balance, and on it goes (Google). This makes
it fairly obvious that work/life balance is an issue and people are seeking
ways to find or maintain this balance. Let us then find some definitions
of work/life balance so there is a common understanding:
• The amount of time you spend doing your job
compared with the amount of time you spend with your
family and doing things you enjoy. (Cambridge
Dictionary, 2021)
• Work-life balance means prioritization between
personal and professional activities. It is the level of
an individual’s life when activities related to their job
are present in the home. This balance has become a
topical issue because of the increased amount of
technology that removes the importance of physical
location in defining the work-life balance. Previously
the line between professional and personal was clearer
so it was harder or impossible to take work home.
(Hygger Blog, 2021).

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These definitions show us that both work and home life are important to
people. The terrific Covid-19 crisis has shoved work and home duties
under the same roof for many families. For some of them, finding work-
life balance becomes more difficult when working remotely.
Parents who work from home can schedule important virtual
negotiations but their children can also have standing teleconferences.
Actually, a virtual morning preschool meeting may be as important as
your own conference calls or virtual team-building. So, you will need to
make some efforts to wedge the rest of the workday into the early
mornings and post-bedtime.
Fortunately, many online management tools are moving forward and
offer advanced options and additional features. This is clearly seen in
the example of video conferencing software, such as Zoom, Google
Meet, etc.
The literature review will present an overview on how a person should
maintain his/her work life with personal life and in what way is
smartphone helpful in people’s work life. It will also talk about how
people have started using their smartphones to operate their businesses.
A balance between smartphones usage and work is required otherwise it
will lead to discrepancy in both working environment and personal
environment. Taking help from different articles about smartphones and
work life balance will provide a better knowledge about the topic.

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Objective of study:
The main objective of this study is to tell how smartphones can help
people in their work and make their life easier. COVID-19 has made us
realize that one can work from their home only by using different
technological gadgets like smartphones, laptops, etc.
The scope of this study is to tell how people use their smartphones in an
effective manner and what’s their usage pattern.

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CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
The rise of smartphone
While the average consumer has only become familiar with
the smartphone in the last 5 years, development of what we
know as the smartphone today actually began in the early
1990s.
• 1983
The first mobile phone goes on sale in the shape of the Motorola DynaTAC
8000X. It cost an eye-watering $4000 USD.
• 1985
Michael Harrison made the first ever mobile phone call in the UK. He called
his father, the then Chairman of Vodafone, Sir Ernest Harrison.
• 1989
The first ever truly portable mobile phone hits the shelves – the Motorola
9800X which features a flip down to cover the keypad.
• 1991
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) phone launched and 2G
digital cellular networks replaced the 1G analogue system.
2G made Text messages, picture messages, and multimedia messages
(MMS) possible, creating a whole new way for people to communicate.
• 1996
The first ever phone with the ‘slider’ form factor came in the shape of the
Nokia 8110. It had the nickname the banana phone due to its shape and even
made an appearance on the big screen in the Matrix. It was also the first
device to feature a monochrome LCD screen.
• 2000
The Sharp J-SH04 becomes the first camera phone on the market but only
available in Japan. BlackBerry launch their 857 which support email and
web browsing signifying the start of BlackBerry’s reign as the business
phone kings. Nokia also launched perhaps the most iconic phone of all time
– the Nokia 3310. It sold 126 million units.

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• 2008
The first Android phone is released called the G1. It has a limited
touchscreen and a slide out keyboard. Elsewhere Microsoft decides to bin
Windows Mobile citing that it cannot compete with iOS or Android. It
begins work on a brand-new OS – Windows Phone. Apple also launches
the App store with 552 apps available to download.
• 2009
WhatsApp launches, its co-founder, Jan Koum Koum came up with the idea
for the messaging app during a movie night at a friend’s place.
• 2013
Fingerprint scanning went mainstream when it launched on the iPhone 5S
via the touch button.
• 2014
3G coverage is now available to 99% of the UK population. Elsewhere
Facebook acquires WhatsApp for $19 billion. 4G data traffic surpassed 3G
for the first time. Although 4G represents only 14% of mobile connections
in 2015, it already accounts for 47% of mobile data traffic.
• 2019
The UK & US begin to deploy 5G network, initial indications point to real-
world data transfer speeds 10 times faster than 4G.

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In the early days of the smartphone (from 1992 to 2002) the prohibitive
pricing and overall marketing strategy meant smartphones were generally
only used by business users. Most of the smartphone models during this
period focused on providing core business functionality which essentially
combined the mobile phone with a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). The
release of Nokia’s N-Series phones marked the beginning of phones being
marketed as mobile PCs. This range of phones introduced enhanced
functionality such as an MP3 player and camera. This could be seen as the
initial stages of phone providers moving the smartphone concept from the
business market to the consumer market. White (2010) highlights a number
of key technological advances that have assisted technology and
telecommunications companies in brining smartphones to the general
consumer. These include:
• Dramatic improvements in network bandwidth.
• Increased availability of wireless broadband.
• Increased size of memory cards for mobile phones.
•Technological improvements in screen design which enhance the quality
of images.
• Improvements in battery life.
• The introduction of mobile search which leverages the ‘location
awareness’ of the mobile phone.

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All of the elements identified by White (2010) contributed to the 2007
release of the iPhone. The loyalty of consumers to the Apple brand built on
the success of the iPod music player, as well as Apples traditional focus on
the consumer market as opposed to the business market resulted in the
iPhone becoming a huge success. Apple also leveraged the power of Web
2.0 which allowed developers to create apps which would run on the iPhone.
This helped to further entice consumers to move to the iPhone as they would
be able to use their phone for much more than just calls, texts, camera etc.
The release of the Android operating system in 2007 meant that other phone
providers were able to move into the consumer smartphone market and
attempt to emulate the success of Apple. Since then, other providers such
as Nokia, Samsung and HTC have gained a huge market share of the
consumer smartphone market.
By looking at the graph, we can say that the number of people using
smartphones is increasing every year with an increasing rate. The need to
do work on the run is increasing. People are looking for those types of
gadgets which can make their work simpler and quicker.

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By studying this graph, we can tell that Samsung smartphones are used by
a lot of people from around the world as a lot of smartphones that Samsung
makes is affordable and packed with many features.
As we saw in the 2020 and 2021 lockdown, we were requested to stay at
home and do work from home or attend classes online. So, a large number
of people were left with no choice but to do what was told. People purchased
smartphones and made best use out of them.
The effect of Smartphones on users
Smartphones have changed almost beyond recognition in
recent years. As discussed in the section on the history of
smartphone, the introduction of the iPhone and their
competitor Android phones has meant these devices are no
7 longer only available to business users of certain
positions within the modern-day Organisation. They are
now widely available to everyday consumers and offer
apps for almost every conceivable task. They also mean
that users are now constantly plugged-in to the web at all
times bringing the world closer to a truly networked society.
This has undoubtedly been of benefit to people as the Web 2.0 model has
enabled software providers to create apps which deliver specific

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information via apps that users would previously have had to search
explicitly for on the internet. This is helping to further develop the
information society and make workers more efficient in carrying out
everyday tasks. However, with all new technology that offers benefits to
users there are disadvantages.
The media has taken a keen interest in discussing the negative effect
smartphones are having on users. There are also a number of academic
papers focusing on the effect smartphones have had on workers. A common
theme of many of the media and academic reports are that smartphones are
habit forming and that they are resulting in work invading what was
traditionally considered personal/free time of the user.
The New York Times ran a series of articles focussing on the effects of
smartphone usage on users. Connelly’s article reports that users of
smartphones find they affect their concentration and stress levels and can
intrude on other activities. Scelfo’s article reports, possibly more
worryingly that parents who use smartphones are not engaging in enough
quality time with their children as their focus is on their devices instead.
The Editors of the New York Times also ran a blog series which received
contributions from a number of leading industry experts. Many of these
suggest those smartphones have resulted in users never ceasing to multi-
task. It was suggested that this has the potential to increase the stress levels
of users and many offered advice on how to overcome this.
What is a healthy Work-Life balance?
Work-life balance is defined as the “balance between an individual’s work
and their life outside work” which “should be healthy, that personal
fulfilment is important inside work and that satisfaction outside work may

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enhance employees’ contribution to work”.
The work life-balance as the ability to find a balance between three key
elements: paid work, unpaid work and personal time.
Paid time - this was seen as the time people were paid to carry out work
related duties.
Unpaid time - this was seen to be the time people took to carry out personal
obligations and home-based activities.
Personal time - this was seen to consist of a number of different elements,
including “Me time, Time to reflect/reenergize, spiritual needs, family time,
partner time, social time and physical health.
The detail above suggests that some boundary between an employees work
and personal life needs to exist in order for them to maintain a healthy work
life balance. It also suggests that people must have time to allocate to a
number of different aspects of personal time in order to maintain a healthy
balance.
Why is Work-Life Balance Important?
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance will positively affect not only
health and relationships but also employee’s productivity and performance.
When team members don’t view work as a routine, then they will work
harder and will make fewer mistakes.
Considering the fact of how difficult it can be to attract and retain new
workers nowadays, companies that gain a reputation for encouraging work-
life balance have become attractive.

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Key Reasons Why Work-Life Balance is Critical
Minimizing health problems
Being in stress, you run the risk of destructing more than just your social
life but your physical and mental health. A poor work-life balance usually
leads to dangerous symptoms that can affect your wellbeing: from the flu to
serious heart-related problems.
Maintaining the balance, you significantly limit health problems and
absences. This ensures that your company is more efficient during business
hours.
Boosting engagement
Helping team members to find a healthy balance between work and home,
you will increase their level of engagement.
An engaged workforce will lead to your team members becoming loyal
advocates for your brand and product. They will more likely stay at work
late if something needs to be done after the normal workday ends.
Minimizing burnouts
Everyone gets stressed from time to time. However, you can avoid
workplace burnouts and make some efforts to ensure this doesn’t happen to
your team. Burnouts occur when you feel overwhelmed. They can affect
every aspect of your life. Sometimes it is really important to encourage your
team to take time off and leave work at work.
Accelerating mindfulness
Sustaining a healthy work-life balance leads to developing greater control
over our focus and ability to concentrate on the task at hand. This is about
mindfulness.
A healthy work-life balance will help to create an environment where
everyone is dedicated to the task at hand. You will quickly observe
improving retention rates, profit, and productivity.

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Work-Life Balance and Various Generations
The essential goal of any employer is to save money and maintain a
healthier, more productive workforce by creating a work environment that
prioritizes work-life balance. How exactly does work-life balance look
like?
Over the years, the approach to work-life balance has been constantly
evolving. For employers, it should be useful to know how to identify the
difference in opinions among the different generations – Baby Boomers,
Generation X, and Millennials.
Work-Life Balance and Baby Boo
Baby Boomers are people born between 1945 and 1960. This adult generation
had experienced a lot of hardships at a very young age. Their main goal was
to make a decent living. They craved stability in the workplace and valued
the opportunity for employment, that is why the work-life balance wasn’t a
key priority.
Baby Boomers stayed at certain companies for longer periods of time than the
following generations. Nowadays many of them have senior or director-level
positions and it surely requires discipline and a high degree of responsibility.

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Work-Life Balance and Generation X
Gen X representatives are the children of Baby Boomers. They were
typically born around the years of 1960 and 1980.
Gen X grew up observing the hard hours and poor work-life balance of their
parents. Many of them were exposed to the effect of such relationships with
work on their families. That’s why they put more emphasis on creating
work-life balance in their own lives.
The employees of Generation X prioritize spending time with their relatives
and tend to think about work-life balance as a prerequisite to employment.
They often seek perks such as adequate vacation time, telecommuting, or
extended maternity/paternity time.
Work-Life Balance and Millennials

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Millennials are people born between the years of 1980 and 2000. They have
come with their fair share of stereotypes. One of the most essential priorities
for them is to find stable employment to pay for higher education (of
themselves and their children) and dealing with soaring housing costs.
In order to satisfy the desires of Millennials, many employers add special
benefits, game rooms, free coffee, or beanbags to spruce up the work
environment.
However, many millennials say that they even don’t care about these types
of perks, they only care about finding a career path that will support their
lifestyle.
Are Smartphones affecting Work-Life balance?
Some of the literature on this subject suggests that smartphones are
affecting the work-life balance of users. The common thread is that because
smartphones now provide the ability for users to be connected to work email
etc. 24/7 that it is removing the boundary between work time and personal
time, therefore disrupting the work-life balance.
An article to the New York Time series titled ‘Who’s the boss? You or your
gadget?’. This article provided some interesting contributions from users
themselves. A number of users suggested that the ability to access work
communications via their smartphone enabled them to meet their work
obligations while at the same time meeting family obligations. Prior to the

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introduction of smartphones these workers may have had to forgo the family
activities in order to meet these work obligations.
The devices also enabled them to have more meaningful contact with their
families when they were involved in work activities. Apps like Zoom,
Google Meet, Skype, FaceTime, etc. enable more face-to-face
communication when families are apart due to work commitments.
The article does provide evidence that users themselves are becoming aware
of problems associated with overuse of smartphones and other devices.
Some users cited examples of how they were consciously disengaging from
their devices at set times such as family meal times.
Employees themselves want to own a smartphone which is driven by
consumer behavior worldwide. Most organizations willingly provide access
to their corporate networks including email, intranet etc. allowing
employees to access these via their personal devices. While this may have
been initially to support tele-workers in their organizations it is possible to
now extend this to everyone who owns a smartphone.
This results in employees who do not have a traditional tele-working
arrangement in place with their employer inevitably spending part of their
free time outside of the office on work activities such as email.
The New York Times series cited examples of how smartphones can help
people address some of these needs, such as family time via WhatsApp,
Facetime and skype calls when employees are away from their families,
social time via social networking etc. However, it may be more difficult to
meet some of the other needs identified such as spiritual,
reflection/reenergizing time, me time and physical health while constantly
connected to the distractions which the smartphone introduces.

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Application of smartphones in the working environment
How Technology Can Help Elevate Your Work-Life Balance
Even when one considers all the good these magic little mobile devices do,
technology has often been the culprit of physical complaints and general
poor health. From "text neck" and eye strain to "smartphone thumb" and
insomnia, the list of ailments caused by technology grows.
But let’s face it, with the newest advances in technology, we can be
connected at all times. We can always be available for impromptu
brainstorms or the occasional social media fire. Smartphones and mobile
devices give us the access to constantly check our emails in case of any type
of work emergency.
But now that we are always connected, there have been many valid
arguments that it’s hard to keep work and personal life separate. While
being always connected can seem like a negative, there are many ways
technology can help achieve the perfect balance between work and personal
life. This way, you and your team are able to get work done efficiently
during the eight-hour workday.
Email
Email can be the biggest problem when it comes to work-life balance.
Because of smartphones, email accessibility is very easy, which can lead
to spending hours catching up by sending quick replies.
When outside of work, employees can get caught up constantly checking

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their email when they are supposed to be enjoying their own personal time
away from the office. But with technology, many email platforms now
allow access to mark which emails are “urgent” and which emails don’t
have to be dealt with right away. Not to mention that many email services
such as Gmail and Outlook are reviewing analytics and algorithms to help
sort emails more efficiently from data they have collected. This will help
streamline what’s important to the top of any inbox. It’s best to look into
what your email client can do for you and choose accordingly.
Time-Tracking/Project-Planning Apps
Technology can also help your company advance with tools to enable
employees to work smarter, not harder. Hard work is a quality all employers
seek in their employees, but it is equally important to find employees who
work smart so your company can see the benefits of their hard work.
When employees enjoy their jobs, the work is better. And when technology
is available to them, they are that much more productive. No employee
wants to be stuck at the office late at night every day finishing up a project
or working crazy hours day in and day out. With the help of certain
platforms, workflows can be streamlined so employees aren’t wasting their
time.
Fitness Trackers
Aside from the organizational benefits
when employees are able to tackle all that
their jobs throw at them and still have
meaningful relationships outside the office,
tech can also allow employees to be active
and take breaks. Consider the slew of
smartwatches and fitness bands available,
such as Fitbit. Most provide opportunities
to set standing reminders, step goals and
general activity levels. This allows employees to counteract the negative
effects of sitting and staring at a screen all day.

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Remote Work
Through the use of email, video conferencing software and
project management platforms, working virtually is now a
viable option for companies. There are many perks when it
comes to working remotely. Employees no longer have to
waste time commuting to work every day, and they can begin
working the instant they wake up. This increases productivity
when employees are excited to begin their day.
As technology continues to advance, it will help bridge the gap between
one's work and their personal life.
Technology is a key tool in working more efficiently and effectively when
on the job so that employees can enjoy downtime when they are not
working. The best companies thrive thanks to employees who are happy
with their jobs and enjoy what they are doing.
GPS Navigation
Smartphones allow you to find wherever you need to go at the
touch of a button. No need for old fashioned paper maps like
back in the day and checking your compass for east and west.
You can even map out routes for your latest run schedule.
Efficiency
One of the things that make smartphones so vital to our daily lives is their
efficiency. The speed with which you can do tasks on a smartphone is
almost unparalleled. It allows you to get work done and communicate with
people even whilst you’re on the move.

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Time Saving
The ability to do so many different things on one device (from checking
your email, texting friends, checking the weather and news, making
appointments, make bank transactions, etc.
Safety
We are able to trace our friends and family thanks to
numerous Apps such as FindMyFriends to make sure they
are safe. And walking home alone late at night is no longer
needed ordering taxis (Uber, OLA, etc), has never been
easier.
Accessible information
There is almost nothing that can´t be done with a smartphone. It basically a
portable minicomputer.
Online classes and work from home
In the midst of COVID-19 outbreak, people were told not to
get out from their houses and then the trend for taking online
classes and doing work from home paced up.
Social media influencers
Influencers on social media use their smartphones to
post, upload video, blog on their account, website or
channel. They can do their work from any part of the
world if they have smartphone and a reliable internet
connection.

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Use of educational apps
Those who prepare for competitive examinations take
good advantage of smartphones because they can easily
join classes and understand the concept at any time.
Mobile gamers
With the increase in e-sports culture in India a lot of
youth is interested in becoming a gamer in mobile
category. Many have already made their career in
that sector and are achieving greater heights. This
could only be possible because smartphones are
comparatively cheaper than PCs.
Business control
If you have a business in food sector or clothing
sector, then you can easily manage and control your
business with the help of your smartphone. One can
also develop an application for their business from
which they can keep an eye on the business.
The smartphone app industry is a booming industry that worth billions of
dollars. According to entrepreneur.com the average mobile app user spends
more than 30 hours a month on more than two dozen apps. That’s a lot of
people spending a lot of time with their noses stuck in apps. Given that 46
percent of app users report having paid for their apps, that’s big money, too.
Within this year it’s expected that over 268 billion app downloads will
generate $77 billion worth of revenue.

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The effect of smartphones on society
The two opposing viewpoints of technological determinism and social
shaping of technology both have relevance to some extent in evaluating the
effect the smartphone has had on society.
The rapid development and user adoption of the smartphone has led to
significant changes in people’s behavior in relation to work related tasks in
the information society. It has also led to an entirely new set of behavior as
people now use their smartphones to access a host of information not
previously available to them when they were mobile. Technological
determinists would be of the view that the technology i.e., the smartphone
itself has resulted in this change.
While to a certain extent the functionality offered by this new technology
has influenced the way employees live their lives, I don’t believe the
smartphone on its own would not have been able to effect change on society
that has been witnessed in recent years. Government investment in wireless
broadband infrastructure has also been crucial. The improved quality and
availability of wireless connectivity has also been instrumental in increased
user adoption.
It could also be said that the current economic climate has instilled a
nervousness in employees that has resulted in them committing more time
to work related tasks outside traditional working hours in order to secure
their jobs.

31
The effect of smartphones on the world of work
The introduction of the smartphone has further developed the Information
Society by providing the ability for employees to be attached to their
employer network 24/7. It could be said that this has resulted in paid time
essentially increasing outside of contractual hours and encroaching on some
of the activities normally associated with unpaid time and personal time.
This has changed the workplace and has made working on different teams
in different time zones easier to manage. Conversely, this has resulted in the
erosion of the boundary between work and personal time.
It could also be said that the introduction of this technology has changed the
way people live their lives. The activities they carry out every day even in
their personal time is now heavily influenced by how they work. The
technology of the smartphone has afforded people the ability to be
responsive to work related tasks 24/7 and these responses are now fitted in
around other personal time activities.
The question of whether the way we work is changing the way we live or if
the way we live is changing the way we work is really dependent on the
individual. For those who love being immersed in technology 24/7 it is just
an extension of that characteristic to also extend that to their working habits.
However, for those who are less comfortable with technology, they may
feel overwhelmed with the intrusion of work email on their smartphones
and find it more difficult to impose appropriate boundaries to their use.

32
Business challenges that can emerge from using mobile phones at work
• Workflow disruption
Always-on communication in the form of personal and work-related
calls can disturb employee workflow and decrease their
productivity.
• Compromised work-life balance
'All hours' availability can interrupt your employees' personal life if
they receive calls outside their working hours.
• Costs
Providing mobile phones to your workforce can be expensive.
However, you can enable features on your handsets and SIM cards
to restrict the use of phones to business purpose only. You can also
choose a tariff that suits company usage. Speak to your service
provider about what is possible.
• Legal issues
The law prohibits using handheld phones while driving. If you
require or permit your staff to use a handheld mobile phone while
driving on duty, you could be committing an offence.
• Misuse of Cell Phones
Cellular phones allow employees to communicate through media
other than voice. Enhanced technology allows the transmission and
receipt of text messages, videos, pictures, emails and instant
messages. Employees who have access to other employees' cell
phone numbers may use cellular communication to send harassing
or inappropriate texts, emails and instant messages.
They may also send communications, pictures and videos that the
recipient finds offensive or unprofessional. This can create
workplace discord and increase the need for employee discipline
and company-wide discussions about harassment policies.
Concerns about privacy are also valid. The more people conduct
personal business and socialize on their cell phones, the more likely
that private issues will be overheard or seen. You know you have
enough opportunity for employee gossip without adding cell phones
to the mix.

33
• Banning Personal Cell Phone Use
For all of these reasons, many companies are banning employee use
of personal cell phones during the work day, except for during
lunches and breaks. If you think you need to do this, it's important
to state a clear policy and stick to it. Personal cell phones should be
put away, out of sight and temptation. If someone needs to check on
a sick child or is expecting an important call, exceptions can be made
if they notify their supervisors first.
• The Time Adds Up Quickly
Another of the disadvantages of cell phones being nearby is that it's
so tempting to use them. People admit to using their cell phones
during the workday to check their personal email and get on social
media. Maybe a quick internet search on websites they can't use on
work computers. Just a few minutes here, a few minutes there adds
up to nearly an hour of personal cell phone use at work each day.
From an employer's point of view, that's wasted company time.
• Balance Between Work and Life
Employees who receive work-related calls outside of normal work
hours, whether on a company-provided phone or a personal cell
phone, may feel an imbalance between their work and personal
lives. That's one of the disadvantages of mobile communication. It
can be difficult for an employee to enjoy time away from work when
her duties spill over into family, social and rest time. This can
increase employee stress, reducing the ability of employees to
manage work tasks effectively.
• Difficulty Monitoring Calls
Some small businesses have a vested interest in monitoring calls
made during work hours. It can help reduce personal calls and
provide information you can use to coach employees on
communicating with clients and business contacts more effectively.
Setting up a call-monitoring system on a traditional land-line
network is relatively simple. However, it is not typically possible for
small business owners to monitor communications via cell phone.

34
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Survey-
Six participants were asked to fill a questionnaire (Google Forum) which
was to understand the smartphone usage habits of them and to get an idea
about how they use their smartphones personally or during work.
Given below is the format of questionnaire and the questions that were
asked to the participants:
SMARTPHONES AND WORK-LIFE BALANCE
This survey is to get an idea about how people use their smartphones
personally or during work.
* Required
Name *
Age *
• 20-29
• 30-39
• 40-49
• 50-59
• 60 or 60+
Ques 1. Name of your smartphone Brand. *
• Samsung
• Apple
• Xiaomi
• One plus
• Other:

35
Ques 2. Is using phone allowed in your office?
• Yes
• No
• Only during lunch time or outside office premises
Ques 3. Do you use smartphone during your working hours? *
• Yes
• No
• Sometimes
Ques 4. How often do you use your smartphone when in office? *
• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never
Ques 5. Which smartphone feature do you use the most? *
• Messaging
• Camera
• For surfing on internet
• For playing games
• Other:

36
Ques 6. How much time do you spend on your smartphone in a day? *
• 30-45 mins
• 1-2 hrs
• 2-4 hrs
• 4 hrs +
Ques 7. Do you feel an urge to use your phone when doing work or
during a meeting? *
• Yes
• No
• Sometimes
Ques 8. Do you think that smartphones help in reducing the work
load? *
• Yes
• No
• Maybe
Ques 9. What's your opinion on managing business using
smartphones? *
• It's great
• Only helps in handling few tasks
• It's not as good as people think
• Other:
Ques 10. Do you think that smartphones can help in maintaining the
balance between work and life? *
• Yes
• No
• Maybe

37
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS & INTERPRETATION
Now we’ll analysis the answers which were given by the six participants
about how they manage a balance between their life and work.
These are the names of the six participants who filled the questionnaire.
This pie chart talks about the which age groups the participants belong.
Looking at the pie chart, we can tell among six participants, three
participants belong to 20-29 years age group and three participants belong
to 30-39 years age group.

38
This is the first question that was asked to the participants.
It tells us that among six participants, 2 have Samsung and the other four
have different brand of smartphone.
2nd
question tells that in Four participants’ office, using smartphone is
allowed.
Only one participant’s office didn’t allow phones. Some organizations have
very strict rules and these rules are supposed to be followed.
The other one is only allowed to use phone when it’s lunch time or he/she
is outside the office premises. Some companies don’t allow the use of
phones when the employee is supposed to work as it creates distraction.

39
This question tells us that out of six participants, only three uses phone
during their working hours.
One person does not use it at all.
And the other one uses phone sometimes.
Question four tells us how often the participants use their smartphone in
office.
By studying the pie chart, we get to know that three participants use their
smartphone sometimes, two uses often and one uses most of the time.

40
Question five asks the participants about which feature of smartphone they
use the most. This was a multiple-option question, so one participant can
select more than one option.
So, by studying the bar graph, all of them uses phone for messaging.
Four uses it for camera, five of them uses it for surfing on internet, three of
the participants uses it for playing games in their free time and only two
participants use it for attending meetings also.
This pie chart tells us how long the participant uses their phone on a normal
working day.
Three of them uses for 2-4 hrs, two uses it for only 30-45 mins and only one
participant uses it for 1-2 hrs in a day.

41
This question is about whether the participant feel any need of using the
smartphone when he/she is doing work or is in a meeting.
So, by studying this we can tell that three feel that urge sometimes and the
other three feel the urge always.
This question tells whether using smartphone helps the participants in
reducing the work load or not.
So, we get to know that four out of six participants agree to it, that yes
smartphones are beneficial in their own way.
Two participants are not sure whether smartphones reduce the work load or
not. This might be possible when they have not used the smartphone for
office purpose.

42
This question talks about whether these participants use their smartphones
in order to manage their business or office work.
Four of them regularly use their smartphones for managing their work and
are very happy with the result.
Two participants have not used smartphones a lot for their office related
work and according to them it only helps in handling few tasks.
The last question of the questionnaire is asking whether smartphones do a
fine job in maintaining the work and life balance or not.
All of them agree to it as at some point of time they could have faced a
problem for which they used their smartphone and it got solved in few
minutes.

43
They understand the requirement of smartphones nowadays as a lot of work
can be done through smartphone only. But one need to understand the usage
limit of smartphones so that it doesn’t create any disturbance in the working
environment and personal space. We have discussed about that in the above
chapters.
This small survey tells us a lot about the present and future of smartphones.
If used wisely then smartphones can create a huge impact on the work and
life balance.

44
CHAPTER 5: FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Conclusions
The smartphone has undoubtedly
revolutionized how people
communicate for work and how they
access information related to work
and personal interests. It has also
created employment as developers
seek to capitalize on the market
available for development of apps
and other content for smartphone
devices.
The benefits of the smartphone have been discussed throughout this paper
as have the negatives. They provide users with the ability to stay on top of
work outside of the office and employers in theory benefit from increased
productivity, often at little expense to themselves as users are choosing to
purchase the phones themselves.
The principal losses would be in terms of loss of personal time and the
erosion of boundaries between work and personal time. I feel that it is really
a personal choice that all owners of this technology need to make in relation
to usage patterns of the devices for work related activities.
Some users are happy to be connected all the time and see no issue with it.
However, others cite that it results in increased stress, while others
particularly those who have been using the devices longer state that they
have consciously imposed boundaries in relation to their smartphone use.
Much of the academic literature in this area has focused on managerial level
users of smartphones. I feel that studies should possibly be conducted into
the usage patterns of non-executive level personnel also in order to help
establish appropriate HR and contractual guidelines for personal
smartphone usage on company networks outside office hours.
Creating a flexible and clear work environment is one of the best ways to
satisfy the work-life balance needs of most individuals. No matter what
generation they belong to.

45
The appropriate work environment will boost job satisfaction, decrease
stress, and help team members maintain healthier habits. It is a good idea to
offer flexible work hours and the ability to organize home offices to create
a more flexible work environment that appeals across generations of
workers.
Desperate searches of work-life balance will evolve with cultural,
generational, and economic changes. Managers should be ready to try
something new if individuals report poor work-life balance. This is a
perfect way to retain talented employees and make them loyal.
Scope for further Study
If we talk about the scope of smartphones
in maintaining the work-life balance, one
can’t argue on the fact that smartphones are
already maintaining it at a nice pace. Introduction
of apps like ZOOM, Google meet, Microsoft teams,
etc. has made life easier in this pandemic.
The increased use of smartphones for administrative
processes has great potential for increasing efficiency,
enabling companies to save costs and remain competitive.
In addition, employees will be relieved of onerous paperwork, giving them
more time for creative tasks.
With this level of development in technological sector, I see future in a quite
good hand. People will able to control and manage their whole business just
from one application. Life will become easier. But as we know everything
has it’s good and bad parts, so we all should be careful enough in the future
when keeping a balance of work-life with smartphones otherwise if it will
be handled properly then every part of the business will collapse and re-
managing it will require a lot a man-power and time.
A simple and intuitive user interface on the smartphone will make it
possible to fully integrate and digitize separate and complex process steps
at this point. Furthermore, the integration of new technologies, such as
augmented reality (AR), will enable the smartphone to completely
transform the way it works.

46
The world of work is increasingly focused on greater flexibility,
collaboration and connectivity. The new digital technologies place the
relationship between employees and companies on a completely new
footing. The flexible, independent use of mobile devices is an essential
element in the new world of work.
The increased use of digital mobile technology also necessitates investment
in cyber security. Incorrect entries could spread quickly or unauthorised
personnel could gain access to data and systems. Data protection must also
be guaranteed and precisely defined and checked in terms of which
customer information may be used and how.
Furthermore, the individual risks associated with greater flexibility at work
must not be overlooked. Thus, it is also important to use the smartphone
conscientiously and responsibly in the work environment. Employers need
to make their employees aware of this and should issue regulations if
necessary.
Recommendations
It’s up to you to improve your work-life balance by limiting the amount of
time you spend on your smartphone. Clearly define the boundaries between
work and home life. Stick to a schedule and share it with your colleagues
and supervisors. Sometimes you just need to put your phone down and do
something else. You’ll achieve a much healthier work-life balance that
benefits everyone.

47
People should understand what is required and what is not. This will help
them in having a tunnel vision on their target and will not be distracted from
the distractions.
As the workplace becomes more digital, enterprises must create an
environment that uses cutting-edge technology to encourage innovation and
flexibility. Using smartphones for a longer duration has its own
disadvantages. So, people need to understand it and use their energy in right
direction.

48
BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Google. (n.d.). Google Search. Retrieved June 2021, from Google:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=work+life+balance&aq=f&a
qi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
• Cambridge Dictionary:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/work-life-
balance
• Hygger: Feb 13, 2021, https://hygger.io/blog/what-is-work-life-
balance/
• Insights Samsung: Nov 3, 2016,
https://insights.samsung.com/2016/11/03/how-to-achieve-work-
life-balance-with-your-smartphone/
• Chron: January 24, 2019,
https://smallbusiness.chron.com/disadvantages-cell-phone-
communication-workplace-12818.html
• KeepCoding: May 5, 2017,
https://medium.com/@KeepCoding_/how-important-is-your-
smartphone-in-your-life-28ec82fff721
• TigerMoblies: https://www.tigermobiles.com/evolution/#start
• Text Request: August 28, 2018,
https://www.textrequest.com/blog/history-evolution-smartphone/
• Forbes: Dec 23, 2019,
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/12/23/smartp
hone-health-how-technology-can-help-elevate-your-work-life-
balance/?sh=7a188e1818f3

49
• The effect of Smartphones on Work-Life Balance by Lisa
Donnelly.
• Google images https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en

Work/life balance and smartphones: Can a smartphone make a difference?

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