A Peek into the Working Day: Comparing Techniques for Recording Employee Behaviour

Abstract

Detailed recordings of employee behaviour can give organisations valuable insights into their work processes. However, recording techniques each have their advantages and disadvantages in terms of their obtrusiveness for participants, the richness of information they capture, and the risks that are involved. In an effort to systematically compare recording techniques, we conducted a multiple-case study at a multinational professional services organisation. We followed six participants for a working day, comparing the outcomes from non-participant observation, screen recording, and timesheet techniques. We generated 136:04 h of data and 849 records of activities. We identified 58 differences between the techniques. The results show that the use of only one technique will not produce a complete and accurate record of the activities that occur on the screen (online), in the hallway (offline), and in the extra hours (overtime). Therefore, it is vital to choose a technique wisely, taking into account the type of information it does not capture. Furthermore, this study identifies some open challenges with respect to accurately recording employee behaviour.