Environmental and Person Antecedents of Telecommuting Outcomes

As telecommuting gradually becomes a mainstream work option, more information is needed about the conditions for its successful implementation. Unfortunately, most information on the individual characteristics or situations best suited for telecommuting are based upon anecdotal evidence. Following a person-environment fit theoretical framework, this study investigated the influence of supervisor support, technical support, family support, commute time, self-management, and affiliation motivation on telecommuting outcomes. Interactions between environmental conditions and person characteristics were examined. The results indicate that support variables are important predictors of telecommuting success. In addition, positive performance outcomes were reported from telecommuters with stronger self-management orientations and lower affiliation motivation. The results provide some evidence of an interaction effect between person characteristics and supervisor support and family support.