Chapter 14 – The Online Workplace

Chapter Summary

Organizations Today – The Online Workplace

Where We Have Come From

• Traditional manufacturing organizations were the backbone of many towns and cities prior to the age of the Internet. Many of these workplaces were housed in a building.
• In the past organizations employed thousands of skilled workers.  Many people worked in heavy industries.
• Traditional organizations had clear boundaries with layers of management.  There were clear boundaries between functional units.
• These organizations were often slow to change to the needs of the market economy due to their size.

What about Today?

• Organizations are smaller and flatter. There are fewer managerial layers.
• New organizations have a web presence as well as buildings.
• E-commerce, the digital marketplace, and physical stores are the drivers of the economy. The online presence of businesses has been accelerated due to COVID-19.
• The consumption of the movie and music industries has also changed to include an online presence.
• Web platforms have changed the everyday dynamics of communications and business transactions.
• People’s purchasing behaviour has changed – people buy online.
• The modern workplace and workers are adaptable and flexible.
• Companies have a global presence and virtual teamworking has become a norm.

The Challenge of Change

• Today’s fast-paced technological environments demand that companies are interconnected and respond to change rapidly.
• Technology is driving change and efficiencies in a fast-paced economy. Change needs to happen quickly. 
• Many companies embrace failure as an opportunity to learn and grow improving products and services.

It’s a New World – The Virtual Environment

The Virtual Organization

• COVID-19 has influenced how virtual organizations conduct their business.
• Virtual Organizations are flexible networks of independent entities that are linked together with information technology.  They share skills, knowledge, and expertise. Collaboration is essential.
• The traditional boundaries of organizations have been broken and today we have ‘boundaryless’ organizations – which have a global scope.

Virtual Teams

• Virtual Teams operate with virtual organizations.
• Virtual Teams can be temporary and may work together on specific projects.
• These teams are similar to traditional teams in that they are goal and performance-orientated.  However, the team may not be situated in the one building or country and IT is used for collaboration. Virtual teams may be disbanded once a project has been completed. COVID-19 demonstrated the effectiveness of virtual team working.
• There are challenges to working in Virtual Teams, these include a lack of physical interaction and the lack of non-verbal cues. The clarification of team roles also needs clarification. Cross-cultural issues need to be understood by team members.
• The psychological safety within teams needs consideration in order for teams to be successful.

The Challenges That Technology Poses for Modern People

Career Planning

• Career planning is different than in the past.  The world appears smaller and travel and education are less expensive.  This offers improved carer choices. 
• Careers are more flexible and workers can create and re-create their careers.
• Workers must take responsibility for managing their own careers.
• Workers need to develop a ‘boundaryless mindset’.
• The gig economy is rising in popularity.

The Darker Side of Technology

• Technology can have some unwelcome challenges. 
• Issues of ‘cyberslacking’, ‘cyberdevient behaviour’, and cyberbullying can be problematic.
• Consideration of digital intrusion and cognitive overload is needed by employers.
• New EU legislation has been put in place to protect workers concerning the right to disconnect from tasks after working hours.
• Robust policies and social and organizational support are needed to support victims.

The Challenges for the Future of Work

Future Scope

• Competition and new technologies will continue to drive change.
• Change is disruptive and disruptive technological innovations will create the jobs of the future.
• New organizational structures and cultures will continue to emerge. Many of these will be small, remote, cross-cultural, hybrid, and environmentally friendly organisations.  There will still be space for the global corporations.
• There are advantages and disadvantages to working from home.
• Going forward organisations need to consider cybersecurity and General Data Protection Regulations.

Back to the Future?

• Before the Industrial Revolution, the workforce was made up of artisans and agricultural workers. The Industrial Revolution introduced huge manufacturing companies and technological change.
• Today, there seems to be a number of organizations that are smaller and specialized, but interconnected by technology.
• Technology has enabled the global economy to respond to the COVID-19 world crisis.