- 23/09/2020
- Category: Commentaries
A new world of hyper connectivity is now emerging in which people and the things around them can become linked, and share information.[i] Research by Gartner shows that the internet-connected ‘things’ in use will likely reach 25 billion or more by 2020.[ii] Additionally, mobile computing is also rapidly expanding access to the network of global workers connected by data as well as voice. The growth in computing speed and storage is making virtual and global collaboration possible in more fields every day. People across time zones and countries can work remotely while staying connected to their teams virtually via Skype, VoIP, email, and cloud-stored files. With the rise of cloud and mobility, the workspace has also undergone a major digital evolution over the past few years.[iii]
A study carried out for the European Parliament at the end of the 1990s on ‘technology-induced atypical work forms’ already highlighted the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as an enabling factor for flexible work patterns.[iv] Today’s workforces are freer to go where they want to work instead of staying at their office or workspace.[v] Flexible working practices have gone hand in hand with the increasing popularity of open-plan offices where employees often hot-desk or work in wi-fi enabled social spaces within the building without walls separating them. Adopting a flexible working culture can also foster collaborative workplaces.[vi] According to the Global Coworking Survey, there were estimated 835.000 co-working members worldwide in 2016. This survey also projects growth of co-working spaces and shared offices to nearly 1.2 million in 2017.[vii] Among other dimensions of ‘ICT-enabled’ flexible work practices, special attention was also given to new forms of subordination links: freelancing, subcontracting to self-employed, on-call work, work status in between employment and self-employment, and others.[viii]
ICTs have also enabled the creation of entirely new types of ‘digital’ or ‘virtual’ labour. The combination of a greater focus on employer and employee cost cutting initiatives, the increasing influence on millennial generation on workplace practices and benefits, and new tax incentives for virtual work programs are contributing to the growth of virtual workforces.[ix] There are three common patterns of virtual work: digital nomadism, on-call work, and crowd working.[x] Virtual work provides wider opportunities for young entrepreneurs to grow in today’s volatile economic environment. Through global digital connectivity, everyone can make money on the internet since they have something to sell (a product or service), someone who wants to buy their product or service (target market), and a way to get paid (electronic money account).[xi]
A glimpse of virtual work seems like a promising thing. Workers are no longer burdened with the obligation to be present on time in the office and have the freedom to set the rhythm of their works independently. With these ideal conditions, virtual workers could bring more people who love their work. In contrary, trends of virtual work certainly keep a series of skeptical questions about whether this work is suitable for everyone. Global Integration Inc. identified that a successful virtual worker is a person who has self-reliant and self-motivated personality traits.[xii] Thus, should you meet these criteria, would you choose to become the next virtual worker?
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[i] Fujitsu. (2015). ‘Digital Workplace Evolution.’ Available at: https://www.fujitsu.com/uk/Images/The%20White%20Book%20of%20Digital%20Workplace%20Evolution%20UK.pdf. [Accessed: 6 July 2017]
[ii] Gartner. (2014). ‘Gartner Says 4.9 Billion Connected “Things” Will Be in Use in 2015.’ Available at: http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2905717 [Accessed: 6 July 2017]
[iii] HPE. (2017). ‘The Evolution of Digital Workforce.’ Available at: http://www.govexec.com/govexec-sponsored/transformed-it/2017/01/evolution-digital-workforce/134810/?oref=it-transformation-river [Accessed: 6 July 2017]
[iv] Valenduc, Gérard, Patricia Vendramin. (2017). ‘Digitalisation, between disruption and evolution.’ Available at: https://cdn.uclouvain.be/groups/cms-editors-fopes/documents/Vendramin%20Valenduc%202017%20Digitalisation%20between%20disruption%20and%20evolution.pdf. [Accessed: 10 July 2017]
[v] Buchanan, Jennifer, Beth Kelley, Alicia Hatch. (2016). ‘Digital Workplace and Culture.’ Available at: https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/human-capital/us-cons-digital-workplace-and-culture.pdf. [Accessed: 10 July 2017]
[vi] Higginbottom, Karen. (2016). ‘Traditional office or flexible workspace?’. Available at: https://www.raconteur.net/business/traditional-office-or-flexible-workspace. [Accessed: 10 July 2017]
[vii] Venable, David-Alan. (2016). ‘Coworking and Shared Office Trends in 2017’. Available at: https://joynture.com/blog/coworking-and-shared-office-trends-in-2017/ [Accessed: 13 July 2017]
[viii] Valenduc, Gérard, Patricia Vendramin. (2017). ‘Digitalization, between disruption and evolution.’ Available at: https://cdn.uclouvain.be/groups/cms-editors-fopes/documents/Vendramin%20Valenduc%202017%20Digitalisation%20between%20disruption%20and%20evolution.pdf. [Accessed: 13 July 2017]
[ix] Thompson, Chad and Pa Caputo. (2009). ‘The Reality of Virtual Work: Is Your Organization Ready?’ Available at: http://www.aon.com/attachments/virtual_worker_whitepaper.pdf. [Accessed: 13 July 2017]
[x] Huws, Ursula. (2017). ‘Dynamics of Virtual Work.’ Available at: http://www.palgrave.com/in/series/14954?facet-pdate=pdate__older. [Accessed: 24 July 2017]
[xi] Guillebeau, Chris. (2017). ‘How to Make Money on The Internet.’ Available at: https://chrisguillebeau.com/how-to-make-money-on-the-internet/. [Accessed: 24 July 2017]
[xii] Wolfe, Ira. (2011). ‘Are Your Employees Cut Out for Virtual Work?’ Available at: https://www.eremedia.com/ere/are-your-employees-cut-out-for-virtual-work/. [Accessed: 24 July 2017]
