Generation Z may only know new ways of working

WORKTECH 11 London    |    Philip Ross, UnWork (pictured) and Kurt Mcronz, Regus

‘Work is a verb, not a noun’, states Philip Ross. Business needs to change the way it views work from somewhere we go to something we do. Work needs to be measured by output rather than time spent in a chair. Work needs to keep up with the changes in the way we live. We are increasingly urbanised – as of 2008 there are more people living in cities than there are in rural areas – and 63.5% of us commute to an office at least 4 or 5 days a week. Travel infrastructure, environmental considerations and work stress mean that this situation is totally unsustainable. ‘Most of us would prefer a short 10 minute journey to work, but away from the home’, said Philip. One solution is the ‘Guild’ or ‘Club’, an additional space where people can work in their communities, cutting out the commuting but creating a positive working environment.

Agile working is a reality for some, but there is still a lack of uptake by many companies. Efficiency will be the biggest driver of this change. Working in the cloud with mobile devices means that the applications we need are available wherever we choose to work. In 5-10 years’ time most companies will have outsourced to the cloud with servers and IT at remote locations allowing business to function in thin buildings. Not only are employees more productive with the new ways of working, but those coming into the workforce in the future will not accept old-fashioned work styles. Generation Z (those born at and after the turn of the millennium) may only know new ways of working.

Kurt Mcronz added that the factors which hold businesses back from implementing change are often ‘simple’ problems such as lease-length; and that there are 20 million work-related journeys each day. Business needs to change its management technique to look at output rather than hours spent in a seat. The development of a space for work between home and city-centre offices will be increasingly important.

Key points

• Increased effieciency will be the biggest driver of change
• Third space working will be increasingly important
• In future, management will be of results, not of time

Top quotations

• ‘Work is a verb, not a noun’

Luke Connoley at 2:52pm, 26 March 2012 in WORKTECH 11 • WORKTECH London

Tagged with: agile working • anywhere working • Generation Z • Kurt Mcronz • Philip Ross • Regus • ROWE • UnWork.com

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