Telecommuting: The case of research software development

This paper reports seven case histories involving the use of telecommuting in the environment of research software development over a 15-year period. The cases are presented and analyzed, and their normative implications are explored. These cases indicate three trends. First, remote expertise will become increasingly valuable and easy to obtain. Second, face-to-face contact will remain important and should be anticipated. It is necessary for ill-defined tasks, for group identity, and for general demonstration of judgment, ability, and competence. Third, telecommuting will become an ordinary, though augmentative, component of work involving highly motivated, independent knowledge workers with well-developed social skills. Such work will be loosely coupled and less hierarchical.