What motivates people to work while travelling and what determines the associated productivity? A case study of the UK rail travellers using a SEM approach

Abstract

Limitations in quantifying productive travel time may prevent transport investment from providing appropriate infrastructure or services to commuters. We contribute to these shortcomings by presenting a holistic conceptual model that reflects the stages and determinants of a productive mobile work episode. The model breaks the events leading to a work episode into different moments, thereby allowing to identify each factor’s impact on productivity. The model is then operationalised using Structural Equation Models (SEM), which are estimated using data that has been collected among 500 mobile workers on UK trains. Expected results will show how single elements of transport infrastructure or ICT boost or hamper productive mobile work episodes, while taking in account commuters’ expectations and their preparation for the journey.