Implementing a mobile device management initiative for enterprise productivity and security

Mobile Device Management Change Initiative Plan

With the growing volume of content, number of applications and information accessed via various devices, Mobile Device Management (MDM) initiative is vital in the management of the mobile enterprise. MDM is more than the ordinary management of devices because it includes system-centered functionality to manage and secure applications and data. MDM is a crucial element of the device life circle, encompassing the device software, hardware, and related services. It requires full cycle management: the IT department is fully responsible for devices owned by the company such as application support, OS standards, and enterprise liability. Although most employees use both smart phones and computers to access the company's IT services, MDM will enable them use more than two devices (Upadhyaya, 2012). This is because the diversity of these devices had been growing exponentially. As such, the company must embark on a long-term vision based on the principle of "any device." The objective will be to enable a greater choice in devices while enhancing global organizational competitiveness and maintaining common user experience. This study outlines a multi-dimensional mobile device management initiative that addresses techniques for mitigating the identified risk. The study includes the implementation schedule and plan for engaging senior management sponsorship of the initiative and communication throughout the organization.

Mobile devices

Over time, laptops and tablets will give employees mobility, and a more globalized workforce will create more flexible work patterns. The current work environment and the common office hours no longer restrict productivity because the more mobile workforce will access IT resources from any point like cafe, customer site, or home. Such dissolution of location border will enable employees to access resources from diverse sites with IT managed assets (Kapin & Ward, 2013). The introduction of laptops, Smartphones, and tablets, coupled with their outstanding features will result in employees seeking to use their devices to do everything ranging from accessing the internet using company applications to accessing company email. Workers who joined the company through acquisition have been using and already want to continue using their individual devices for work.

Many of the company's extranet partners also require access to some applications. Therefore, giving the company IT-managed endpoints will be a solution with high operating costs and capital. The company's IT department recognizes the need to adopt the instantaneous use of the next generation technologies: it will facilitate productivity. This approach is better than using the historical approaches of managing and limiting the deployment of emerging technologies as they penetrate the workplace. In addition, the rapid adoption of new client technologies will lead to the advent and implementation of other technologies, tools and approaches, which will create communities of users enabling employees to solve common customer issues (Hansmann, 2013).

Implementation steps

The first step involves conducting an impact assessment to establish the nature and degree of changes that workers in various departments will have to absorb. One approach will be to evaluate the relevance of mobile social networking applications and design principles in the context of enterprise collaboration. This step will involve the establishment of modalities to apply mobility in the departmental activities (Biafore & Stover, 2012).

The second step will be to tap early diopters to form a network of change agents throughout the business locations, levels, and functions. These agents will help the company to assess the relevance of policies and processes regularly thereby establishing the influence on employee engagement. A key consideration will be a reward structure on mobile devices, which motivate workers to provide feedback and suggest ideas, providing recognition and redeemable points from their peers (Biafore & Stover, 2012).

The final step will be to reassess the corporate learning strategy. The company's mobile solutions must be as intuitive as possible to reduce the need for employee training. For employees in need of help, the company will engage its change agents to help locate learning gaps and facilitate sharing and team learning (Biafore & Stover, 2012).

Communicating the initiative throughout the organization

Communicating this change requires a professional communicator, who knows how to use the principles in constructing messages. This includes linking messages to the workers' thinking routines. This approach will enable to discuss the pros and cons of the change. Even though people tend to communicate the positive side of change, in the end, it is also reasonable to discuss the downside. This highlights areas of employee input whilst providing appropriate solutions to any potential problem. In addition, sharing concerns will create an environment of trust (Hansmann, 2013). Regardless of how the change is persuasively communicated, employees have a tendency of developing doubts. Initiators of the change will be required to harness the dissent that involves proactively soliciting employee concerns regarding the change in a supportive setting.

Conclusion

MDM initiatives have increasingly become a mainstay in the business environment, and while they continue to be the consumer driven, they have found their way into the daily business activities. MDM, just like management of nay resource or technology in the corporate realm, begins with the basic understanding of key aspects of the technology-people-process triangle. While the company already has security policies, these policies must be updated on the components of mobile technology. Each distinct aspect will show a different tolerance for threats and will embrace mobile technology in diverse ways. However, there exist various basic aspects of mobile device management, which must be considered and integrated into practices and policy. This will ensure that the introduction of these technologies will not compromise security. With the advancements in mobile technology, new uses continue to emerge. With such progress in mobile technology, more components of mobile device management come into play. Mobile devices are a tremendous business enabler. As such, the consistent availability of mobile devices will support the integration of business and personal objectives.