How We Should Do Work

I have been taken by a short book I recently read called ‘Business Reimagined’ by Dave Coplin, Chief Envisioning Officer for Microsoft (@dcoplin). The strapline is ‘Why work isn’t working and what you can do about it’.

We are all familiar with the way in which new technologies can aid flexible working and change the way we do business, however the author believes this is only the tip of the iceberg. In fact, he argues, turning up at the office for a set number of hours each day is a legacy from our post-Industrial history where process was greatest factor that led to efficiency. Essentially employees are paid to turn up rather than by what they produce.

This particular idea, that the alternative should be to pay employees by (defined) outcomes and enable them to produce that in their own way, wherever that may be, I found particularly interesting. I think most of us would still like to come into the office to hook up with our colleagues, but if it makes more sense to have a meeting in a restaurant or by video conference, then why not. The technology exists to allow us to interact in many different ways, to be ‘present’ even when we are remote and to collaborate and share with co-workers wherever we are. In fact, the biggest hurdle to adopting this method is not the tools, but management mindset and trust.

Not only should we use new technology tools, but businesses should become more social, encouraging employees, from the lowest to the highest, to become involved through tools such as Yammer. The entire company then becomes a kind of ‘meta-brain’, where workers can seek answers, provide ideas and contribute constructively.

It’s not a big book, but it does provide a great deal of food for thought, liberally illustrated with real world examples. And better yet, if you hunt around it’s available as a free e-book download.