This Week's Herman Trend Alert The Consequences of Virtual Meetings

The Herman Trend Alert March 16, 2005 The Rise of the Virtual Company Over the past decade, technology has emerged making the congregate workplace, physical facilities where people come to work, practically obsolete. As more people have shifted their routines to partial or total telecommuting, there are fewer people actually working in the company’s buildings, eliminating face-to- face communication, team meetings, and storage of immediately accessible information. As this movement toward people working in remote locations continues to evolve, more companies will become partially or wholly virtual. Already today, there are some companies that do not even maintain headquarters offices. People work from their homes—across the country or around the world, connected by cell phones, voice over internet protocol (VOiP), voice and video conference call systems, fax machines, and live video over the internet. Some people never share the same physical space as their co-workers. The changes in work relationships will contribute to the development of a whole new set of skills for managers, as well as for non-management employees. Communications and coordination of work can be considerably different when people never really see each other. Performance measurement will be based increasingly on results, rather that hours worked. The new virtual ways of operating will influence employers that do not shift to a virtual design as well. Virtual corporations will attract a wide range of people, many of whom will be seeking unusual work relationships, a greater sense of freedom and independence, or an ability to integrate their work lives with family responsibilities. People who are self-starters will find virtual work arrangements very comfortable. Quite a few workers will be reluctant to work in virtual companies, preferring instead to work in congregate workplaces. A growing group of people will find themselves in situations where they interact with virtual workers, often without realizing it. Young people will be attracted to virtual employment because of the independence and application of technology. Some will have been prepared by taking on-line courses. While they may be highly productive, these workers may not develop the social skills that are inherent in congregate work environments. This new breed of citizens will relate differently to politics, community life, and family. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: RETENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAM A growing number of people have expressed an interest in attending our Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program. We'd like to schedule on that's convenient for those who want to attend, but need your feedback to do so. Please place RETENTION SPECIALIST in the subject line and Joyce will personally call you back to schedule the workshop. Or you can call Joyce directly at 336-210-3548 (PDT this and next week). BUSINESS IS PICKING UP Most employers are unprepared. The recovery will bring a new set of challenges for employers that have been in prolonged contracted mode. They will need more skilled workers or will need now to begin to upskill their current staffs. But organizations can not engage in Strategic Workforce Planning, when they don't know how. That's where The Herman Group can help. We can help you with your "People Review"----large or small---so that you will know who you will need and when you will need them. . . and we can also guide you to the best sources for the people you will need. For more information, call Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail joyce@hermangroup.com. FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL Discover what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. 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