Is Mobile Work Really Location-Independent? The Role of Space in the Work of Digital Nomads

The enthusiasm around remote and independent working has rapidly gained momentum in the last few years. The digital nomad phenomenon has frequently been portrayed as an exemplar of this pattern, and referred to by the media as a completely location-independent form of mobile work. However, findings from this study highlight the centrality of various spaces in digital nomadic work, and suggest finding and configuring these spaces allow digital nomads to accomplish productive work. Building on interviews with 23 digital nomads and analyzing pictures of workspaces from Twitter, this study examines the unique relationship between the digital nomad’s spaces, work practices, and technologies which both enable and restrict digital nomadic work. We call into question the common argument that that digital nomads or mobile workers can work from “anywhere, anytime,” as it does not take into account the large role that space plays in shaping work. As such, this exploratory research contributes a better understanding of the difference between mobility and location independence as well as why spaces matter to mobile workers.Bachelor of Scienc