About the event

The way we work is changing. Independently of size and field of operations are organizations implementing technologies and solutions that make it possible to work and stay in touch. Shortly, telework has become a reality. Geographical distance is no longer an issue, work can be done in a distributed network of colleagues and business partners. On the other hand, it can be argued that the successfulness of teleworking in virtual environment where technology has an important role demands users to have skills in mastering technology. Even more important are the social and management aspects of telework – they are becoming important in the increasingly fragmented workplace.

The International Telework Academy is a virtual organization which is dedicated to:

• Promoting research in the field of telework and other new forms of work;
• Strengthening ties between the international telework research community
• Facilitating exchange between academic researchers, business practitioners and policy makers.

Membership in the International Telework Academy is free and is open to all with a research interest in telework and related, new forms of work. The academy has arranged several conferences and workshops (for example in the UK, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Japan, Brazil, Canada, Greece, Norway and Poland). These events have inspired numerous publications; journals and books of high academic standard.

In 2009 International Telework Academy arranges the annual event – ITA2009 - in Pori, Finland. The goal of ITA2009 is to create a platform for sharing ideas and interacting among academic researchers and business practitioners within the field of telework. There is a broad range of questions and issues around organizational forms, technology and work which call for discussion and innovative solutions. The fact that work has in many cases become fragmented is more than technology, it challenges organizations and individuals to find ways to master the new environment.