Feasibility of flexible working in the Government of Dubai

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Date
2009-04
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Publisher
The British University in Dubai (BUiD)
Abstract
Purpose: The paper examines the feasibility of implementing flexible working in the government of Dubai, taking into consideration the technical, organisational/cultural, political/legal, project/schedule, and economical elements of the feasibility. Methodology: The study consisted of interviews with HR seniors of 4 government departments, a survey distributed to 185 employees, and official government documents. The feasibility study elements were used as a guideline to validate feasibility. Findings: The results indicate that the implementation of flexible working is a trump card. It is feasible in terms of all the elements investigated. The government has the technical capability for flexible working, there is an enormous support from the government and staff, there are no legal or political restrictions, there are no time or money constraints, and, finally, the benefits outweigh the costs. Limitation: A limitation for this research is the small number of surveys distributed, interviews done, and that some of the results might be context specific. Future research is needed to understand precisely how to measure costs and benefits of flexible working. Originality: This paper undertakes one of the few assessments of flexible working systems, taking account of five different feasibility elements, and can aid in validating the feasibility of flexible working in general.
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Keywords
flexible working arrangements, Government of Dubai, feasibility study
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