Philosophy #6: The Future of Work - Remote vs. Office Debate!

REMOTE VS. OFFICE WORK, ISSUES & COMPLICATIONS

To All:

Companies globally require new ways of managing as they grapple with new working conditions from the coronavirus pandemic. As companies adapt to greater work-from-home environments, new problems have arisen. 

For some, the experience has led them to believe that they actually prefer remote work and that having offices may not actually be necessary. And for others, in-person office environments still remain a preferred work situation.

Hours to Outcomes

A major shift has occurred in many organizations shifting from managing “by hours” to managing “by outcomes.”

This phenomenon has exposed or exploited many managers who did not understand the work of direct reports or who were not very capable. The shift in management focus now favors managers who can properly set objectives and evaluate the work of reports more substantively.

Complex Work

One type of work I personally believe is most complicated by remote working environments is one that I simply call “complex work.” I define this kind of work as one in which outputs are typically non-linear and in which many different groups need to have frequent and high bandwidth interactions with each other in order to solve many, very difficult problems.

Examples of this type of work are generally those that involve creativity such as designing a hit game mechanic or writing a popular song.

The Future of Work: Remote vs Office Debate

In today’s Philosophy Friday, Brett Nowak and I decided to tackle this issue since it seems to be the topic on which we disagree the most.

Brett believes in a new world of remote work where those who don't adapt will not survive, I believe that for "complex work" and when working on “0 to 1” products, in-office environments are best.

Check out the debate below!

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