The Impact the Virtual Workplace Has on the World Today
The Impact the Virtual Workplace has on the World Today
U05a1
Jonnette Ott
Jonnette_ott@yahoo.com
BUS 3004
Developing a Business Perspective
August 11, 2010
Introduction
Telecommuting plays an important role in today’s changing business world. Because we have the virtual workplace such as the internet, we have begun to cut out and replace the workplace environment such as cubicles, and office buildings. The above statement mentions replacing the workplace environment by cutting out cubicles, and office buildings. This has been done in several different ways, which this paper will explain in more detail. Companies have pretty well cut out the middleman, such as secretaries for example, some have been replaced by an automated telephone system. This paper will also explain the advantages, and disadvantages of telecommunications, and the changes that teleworking made on the workplace environment. Statistical Information The term telework was introduced in the 1980’s. It means work from home rather than in the office by using a telephone and personal computer connected to the office via a modem (Cascio, 1998). In 2001, more than half of the United States labor force used a computer at work compared to twenty five percent in 1984. In 1995, at least three million Americans were teleworking; this number is expected to increase over the next decade (Cambridge University Press, 2005).
Advantages and Disadvantages
“The very technologies that provide workers with the freedom and flexibility they desire, also allows them to be further removed from key aspects of the organization” (Scott & Timmerman, 1999). “How virtual are we?” The conflicting definitions of virtuality make it hard to measure how much virtual teaming occurs, and how it affects performance. Virtual teams, also known as Geographically Dispersed Team (GDT), are a group of individuals who work across time, space, and organizational boundaries with links
U05a1
Jonnette Ott
Jonnette_ott@yahoo.com
BUS 3004
Developing a Business Perspective
August 11, 2010
Introduction
Telecommuting plays an important role in today’s changing business world. Because we have the virtual workplace such as the internet, we have begun to cut out and replace the workplace environment such as cubicles, and office buildings. The above statement mentions replacing the workplace environment by cutting out cubicles, and office buildings. This has been done in several different ways, which this paper will explain in more detail. Companies have pretty well cut out the middleman, such as secretaries for example, some have been replaced by an automated telephone system. This paper will also explain the advantages, and disadvantages of telecommunications, and the changes that teleworking made on the workplace environment. Statistical Information The term telework was introduced in the 1980’s. It means work from home rather than in the office by using a telephone and personal computer connected to the office via a modem (Cascio, 1998). In 2001, more than half of the United States labor force used a computer at work compared to twenty five percent in 1984. In 1995, at least three million Americans were teleworking; this number is expected to increase over the next decade (Cambridge University Press, 2005).
Advantages and Disadvantages
“The very technologies that provide workers with the freedom and flexibility they desire, also allows them to be further removed from key aspects of the organization” (Scott & Timmerman, 1999). “How virtual are we?” The conflicting definitions of virtuality make it hard to measure how much virtual teaming occurs, and how it affects performance. Virtual teams, also known as Geographically Dispersed Team (GDT), are a group of individuals who work across time, space, and organizational boundaries with links