‘Post-Modern’ Professional Work and Mobile Technology

This paper aims to theoretically discuss the emergence of the ‘post-modern’ professionals out of the ‘modern’ professionalism in the second half of the twentieth century, and how their adoption and intense use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), particularly mobile and wireless technologies, potentially shapes and is shaped by the emerging professionals’ work practices. For this discussion, the theory of Communities of Practice is employed as an analytical lens. In doing so, we outline three distinct characteristics of the ‘post-modern’ professionals’ work in relation to their adoption and use of mobile technology and other ICTs: multi-participation, boundary objects, and knowledge brokering. Finally we draw some implication for future research.