Ever since the early 1990’s specialists from various areas of the workplace industry
(property, IT, behavioural) have been tantalizing us with the new world where most of us Work From Home. This new world order based on the expansion in technology and a new age of Internet Business entrepreneurs has promised lots but in fact would seem to have failed to deliver.

Firstly, the idea that a large number of us would effectively have what amounts to online jobs has not happened. The definition of online jobs in this instance is not typical, the model developed by workplace experts would see the vast majority of corporate employees employed to work from home, connection to the office would be via their computer. While in most cases these people would have communication on a regular basis with management and team members they would effectively carry out their responsibilities via the PC, therefore in essence they will have Online Jobs.

The reality of how working patterns have transformed is however, somewhat different. There is no doubt that there has been a rise in flexible working, by which is meant the ability to work in a number of different places and a degree of choice and self displayed by the employee in choosing the most right location for that work but whatever the advances in technology, broadband availability and changes in management customs the sea change just hasn’t happened.

There are a number of explanations why not. Firstly, while advances in technology have made remote working possible, changes in the character of work have made it objectionable. Workplace behaviourists have identified that the vast majority of office based workers now reclassified as knowledge workers, produce output notions, services and strategies. In order for them to function effectively they need relations.

Secondly, the quantum of the effect of flexible working behaviours has been difficult to prove. So while the property costs and benefits are easily measured the real benefits in terms of the contribution to core business of the firm can not be evaluated, even in the case of an Internet Business, where the whole transaction takes place online, there is still a case for co-location and relations which cannot be proven or discounted.

With these two rival factors the growth of flexible working has been unhurried and until workplace industry can demonstrate the benefits of productivity or make a solid case for no human contact then it is doubtful we will see the promised sea change in working patterns and behaviours.

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 12:29 am and is filed under Business and Management. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.