
I’m a believer in the idea that the way we work – the freedoms or restraints we put on ourselves when we work – has a large impact on the results that we produce, or in some cases, the results that we fail to produce. This is a topic I’ve explored this topic before with The Future of Work: Interview Series.
As our world shifts in the way that information is shared and how we are connected to one another, the way organizations function internally and externally is being forced to adapt as well. Organizations that have been quick to embrace new methodologies are reaping the benefits. You don’t have to look any further than companies like Google or Best Buy to see that there are other ways to get things done than the typical 9 to 5 cube format.
Mollie Partesotti and Ben Alter are two communications strategists that are tackling the problems in how we work for their master’s thesis project at the VCU Brandcenter. The project is a video series called Cubes Are Evil. They explain:
“We as a society need to reconsider what contributes towards and takes away from productivity.”
So far they have done just that. There are two videos in the series so far, with more to come. Watch below.
/center>
—
Mollie and Ben’s work on Cubes Are Evil has me contemplating bringing back the Future of Work Interviews for a second round.
If I did that who should I interview this time?
What aspects of work should we focus on?
Great article in Fortune about the history of the cubicle:
http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/09/magazines/fortune/cubicle_howiwork_fortu...
"Robert Oppenheimer agonized over building the A-bomb. Alfred Nobel got queasy about creating dynamite. Robert Propst invented nothing so destructive. Yet before he died in 2000, he lamented his unwitting contribution to what he called "monolithic insanity.""
You should read Nine Shift. I know the author. He was predicting this stuff in 2001.
http://www.amazon.com/Nine-Shift-William-Draves/dp/1577220307/ref=sr_1_1...
I think this video offers great information, but I found it really interesting that it was presented in such a linear (rather than mosiac) style. As a Gen Xer, I had trouble staying focused on it, so I'm imaging the same is true for your Gen Y readers.
For your future of work interviews, I think you should look at the challenges of the new style of work/communication. As a telecommuter who works for a highly successful remote organization, I love working along, together. However, when I was a younger worker, I needed more face time with my bosses (and I didn't really realize I needed it until I was older).