These authors also recommend changes in managerial practices to deal with the challenges of supervising remote workers. This training may include general issues such time management along with coverage of telecommuting-specific items. Telecommuting productivity gains result from increased training in time management, information technology, etc. Telecommuting implementations with groups of employees may include changes in the tasks or organization of work. Implicitly or explicitly, such implementations may fall into the category of reengineering, which has its own history of claims of large productivity increases.
Information technology can increase individual productivity.
Even if the amount of technology is comparable to that of on-site workers, usage is likely to be higher from remote locations. However relatively high levels of privacy are also available in office environments through innovative systems furniture. Productivity gains are an artifact of the isolation from interruptions while telecommuting. Increased costs may offset telecommuting productivity gains. The following hypotheses identify explicit and implicit costs to the organization, or to the individual telecommuter, that could offset any gains from telecommuting.