Wednesday, September 2nd 2008; The Institute of Directors (IoD) today announced that it has launched a new ‘Mobile Working’ guide for directors of small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Written by independent business and technology journalists, the 80 page pocketbook guide explains the full range of mobile communications services available today and gives clear guidance on establishing company policies in straightforward, business terms.

Published in association with Vodafone UK, the guide is aimed squarely at improving business performance within the context of practical and realistic management principles. Over the course of ten concise chapters, the guide includes recent developments in technology, real world applications and management issues including security and flexible working policies.

Miles Templeman, Director General of the IoD, commented: “We worked closely with Vodafone to establish not only the key drivers of modern mobile communications technology but also the social environmental factors that are influencing the move to more flexible working patterns. The knowledge that Vodafone has attained by listening to its vast customer base , coupled with its understanding of what is happening at the cutting edge of technology, formed the basis of a powerful brief that has resulted in an invaluable guide for small business directors that want to improve the way they do business.”

Elaine Roberts, Director of Enterprise Marketing at Vodafone UK, added: “Many small businesses want to move to more flexible and mobile ways of working both for the benefit of their employees and their bottom line but are unsure how to go about in a structured way. This new Guide outlines all the issues and opportunities in one place, providing businesses with a framework for choosing the right technology, setting policies and managing their mobile working strategy from top to bottom. We are very proud to have worked with the IoD on a resource that is so focused on the needs of our customers.”

The Director’s Guide to Mobile Working: Changing the Landscape for Future Business was authored by business and technology writers Marc Beishon, Nick Booth, Paul Bray, Piers Ford, Philip Hunter, Huw Morgan and Malcolm Wheatley. The full list of chapters includes ‘the mobile enterprise’, ‘social and business drivers’, ‘marketing and commerce’, ‘choosing the right technology’, ‘rolling out mobile applications’, ‘applications and suppliers’, ‘business continuity and security’, ‘policies for productive use’ and ‘future opportunities’.

The Guide is being distributed to members of the IoD with the September issue of Director magazine, is available for download from the IoD website (www.iod.com/mobileworking) and is also available in hard copy by request in writing to [email protected] (IoD membership not required).