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Reducing Barriers to Productivity

Social networking tools will play an important role in the future of work organisation by helping us to create, connect and collaborate as project teams, regardless of time or place.

As workers move toward contracting and business’ take the opportunity to outsource work to increase productivity new methods of organising and facilitating work will arise.

Institutional “containment” as we know will cease to exist and with it the barriers to productivity that stalled the growth and development of our people and businesses.

Networking Tools & Platforms

Today’s social media tools and network platforms have created an environment where communication, collaboration and coordination are already in use. They need simply be applied in business to make it quicker and easier to get work done.

No longer limited by time or place or disadvantaged by the costs of travel, the concept of using networking tools to facilitate projects begins a paradigm shift in the way we think about and accomplish work.

IT and business technology will take center stage in the post-recession economy. The crisis…will sweep away organizations that do not grasp the importance of and utilize social network technologies.

Innovation will be defined by networks, [collaborating to] work with partners or competitors or customers using social technologies. George Colony, CEO of Forrester.

The way we work is changing and with it comes a shift in power, away from the corporate hierarchy that directed and controlled productivity in the past towards the innovative, more flexible contract workers that are ready and able to work, as needed.

Connect & Collaborate with Worknow

Networking tools and platforms give individual contractors and dispersed project teams the ability to compete with institutions at an unprecedented level. At Worknow we support this more flexible, entrepreneurial work ethic and are here to help contractors find, connect and collaborate on project work opportunities..

Old Models of Work Will Change

Finally! recognition from a Baby Boomer that that being “brought into line” with the Baby Boomer work ethic may indeed be a futile attempt to fit round pegs into square holes.

The question for us is whether the discipline of coming into the office for specific hours is a necessary artifact of the workplace or some hangover from the factory model. We were taught to come in, wear this kind of uniform, do this kind of work. Maybe that’s the wrong model now, and maybe Gen Y is an agent of that change. It’s something for each CIO to weigh; we must strike a balance that fits our organizations. Read Article

To the statement that the current system of work organisation is an artifact of the past I offer a resounding I agree! Thank you for recognising that it is not the only model available to us and that what worked in the past may be in need of change.

Productivity & Continuous Improvement at Work

And to take this one step further while the author offers some great advice on connecting with Gen Y in the workplace, I would suggest that the workplace instructions offered:-

1. establish clear expectations
2. offer regular feedback

Are as applicable to Boomers and Gen X’er as they are to us Gen Y. Isn’t this simply sound workplace advise on how to:

1. increase productivity and
2. establish a culture of continuous improvement

Future Models of Flexible Work

At Worknow we support a more entrepreneurial work ethic and we work to encourage people to connect with work in more flexible, effective and affordable ways.