The future of the workplace

Wednesday, 01 June 2011

The future of the workplace

New technology, computer-savvy youngsters and environmental concerns are all forcing profound changes in how we work and the nature of our work environment itself. In association with Smart Technologies, MT explores the issues in a round-table debate hosted by the Royal College of Art.

Matthew Gwyther: If we'd been having this conversation 10 years ago, it would have been called The Workplace of the Future and not The Future of the Workplace. That would have reflected the confidence there was then. But now, the idea of the workplace is in a state of flux, which is down to a variety of factors: cost, carbon, technology, sustainability and culture. People still accept that it's very important for an organisation to have a clear definition of what it is and how to go efficiently about achieving its aims, but how does the working environment play its part? The workplace is becoming more fragmented - people aren't working together under the same roof as they were even 20 years ago. What effect will that have on the culture of an organisation? Is it a weakness that people aren't communicating face to face on a regular basis?

More at http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/features/1071186/the-future-workplace/