Original version

BBC World Service Online

Business Daily

Factual: Money

The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.

Business Daily: Crackberry or Blackberry? 

06/01/2010

Crackberry or Blackberry? 

BBC World Service - Business Daily, Crackberry or Blackberry?

Is being contactable via your Blackberry or iPhone 24 hours a day such a good thing?

Almost every business leader has one thing in common - they have an electronic gadget which delivers e-mails as well as being a mobile phone. But is always being on call a totally good thing?

Almost every member of the elite band of people at the top of international businesses has one thing in common - they have a zippy piece of electronic gadgetry in their pocket which delivers e-mail messages as well as being a mobile phone. 

There are different brands - the best-known are the Blackberry, the Apple iPhone and devices made by Nokia. And it's not only chief executives who have them - more and more middle and junior managers are getting them. But is always being on call - within reach of e-mail - a totally good thing? 

One man who is a fan of these devices is John Purcell, who runs the London headhunters, Purcell and Co, and is a successful businessman. He told Business Daily how his Blackberry had changed his world and his work.

But increasing concern is being voiced about the distractions of these devices like Blackberries - when the person in question is a member of a company board, who is tapping away answering their messages during an important meeting. 

It's an issue that's fired up David Beatty. He spent a decade managing one of North America's largest food companies, and in the past he's served on the boards of 30 companies - he's now a board member for 3 publicly listed companies. He's also Professor of Strategic Management at the University of Toronto and Director of the Clarkson Centre for Business Ethics.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Business Daily

Crackberry or Blackberry?

Genres

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service