Viva la Office!

How a work place revolution turned full circle to recreate the familiar old office. Change in world After Covid-Disruption.

This insightful, crowd-sourced blog was created in 6 minutes. 

How? On QUBE.

For hundreds of years enterprises and then organisations took the lead from biological hierarchies. In an evolutionary biological system, in the words of the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland, “It takes all the running you can do to stay in the same place”. So as long as the pace of change in the environment is slower than the ability to adapt the best answer is a competence hierarchy.

In our organisations and businesses the “reporting” hierarchy has been underpinned physically through the size and location of offices. For many, a building or series of buildings of increasing prestige lined up with the status of the person’s role. And there is no point to a King without a court, so it became normal to trudge daily to court. To see and be seen. To meet face to face. To work and to be in on the intrigue, gossip and news.

…there is no point in a King without a court

Recently, even Before Covid (BC) it became obvious that collaboration is the key to project and change success. Agility means change emerges faster. Digital transformation, which has been on the C-Suite agenda for a decade was assumed to have provided solutions for collaboration and agility.

But once Covid-19 struck governments restricted the trudge to court. The change just happened. But it was clear that the digital solutions we brought in had been designed assuming that people would still have to be in the office to get things done. But since people still knew what their roles were they continued to function. They did so although they were not taught the skills to thrive in the new virtual world. But the costs of hybrid work were greater for enterprise than just working in the office largely because the digital solution lacked productivity. 

Many thought leaders said that the difficulty in being productive was because physical contact, body language etc are more important than thinking together or sharing documents. They concluded that any workplace revolution would continue to have office presence heavily featured in it. They argued that access to virtual technology isn't equal for all and that digital isn't compatible with collaboration.

Second-generation digital solutions assumed an office presence.

But what only digital pioneers and workplace revolutionaries yet know is that there is no right answer on where and how to work. So instead of seeking digital solution apps and platforms it is more important to create an environment, that anyone can access from anywhere. By making sure the culture in this environment or let’s call it a “world”, was appropriate there would be a positive impact of change on mental health and wellbeing as people felt included and connected emotionally to each other.

Freeing up assets spent on building and maintaining offices allows employers to reward their staff more generously for their contribution. This “fuel for growth” has a significant impact on how the organisation will change.  

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And only digital pioneers and workplace revolutionaries know that you can do on QUBE what digital solutions can’t deliver. You can have an inclusive workplace with high levels of productivity and emotional engagement.

Use cost savings as ‘fuel for growth’.

The implications of all this are clear. Adopt third-generation digital worlds and ensure the savings on buildings, physical spaces and travel are reinvested into enabling technology. Without taking the lead of the pioneers organisations will select quick-fix solutions such as “work from home Monday, Wednesday and Friday” instead of selecting long-term sustainable improvements. They will miss the opportunity to deliver a workplace revolution as their leaders will maintain closed mindsets.

So the way forward is clear. We can easily have and share a clear strategy for the future. We should save costs by closing offices and use the funds to meet the needs of individuals, in a way that is fit for the future. We must acknowledge that there will be some people who are slower to accept this need to change. At the same time recognising that for the individuals as the volume of commuters falls, the cost of commuting will rise. Fewer mass transit passengers will have a disproportionate impact on greenhouse gasses.

So Viva la Office! The New Normal super real office that is.

About this Blogpost

This blogpost was created collaboratively on QUBE using the EurekaBlog. EurekaBlog is a Performance Enhancement Tool (PET) embedded in the QUBE super real campus for everyone to use. There are dozens of People Engagement Tools (PET) that allow enjoyable collaborative work. And these Possibility Exploration Tools (PET) allow organisations to transform and innovate with ease.

About QUBE

QUBE Reality a one minute video.

QUBE is a facilitated transformation service delivered through super real campus. You'll be able to do things that are normally impossible in your super real office. We call it a MyQubicle. Take a look at what your office will be. https://QUBE.cc/QwikGuide-MyQubicle

About the Contributions.

EurekaBlog (2021-05-20 22:27:28)

Note (subash tavares) 18:41 Today          Incorporate climate change into our plans.

Note (subash tavares) 18:40 Today          Have and share a clear strategy for the way forward.

Note (alistair johnson) 18:40 Today         I will be the only person in the office. Costs of commuting will be very expensive.

Note (rachel jenkins2) 18:40 Today         We must acknowledge and support the people who are slower to accept this need to change

Note (familychandler) 18:40 Today          That it will not be sustainable to work remotely.

Note (subash tavares) 18:40 Today          The impact of change on mental health and wellbeing.

Note (familychandler) 18:39 Today          Can save costs by closing offices!

Note (alistair johnson) 18:39 Today         There is no right answer on where and how to work.

Note (jo stanford) 18:39 Today                  Focus on shared vision based on outcomes that meet the needs of individuals and is fit for the future.

Note (knowledgehub) 18:39 Today          Freeing up assets spent on building and maintaining offices allows employers to reward their staff more generously for their contribution.

Note (rachel jenkins2) 18:39 Today         The savings on Buildings, physical space and travel must be reinvested into enabling technology.

Note (subash tavares) 18:39 Today          How the organisation will change.

Note (familychandler) 18:39 Today          That you can do it on QUBE.

Note (alistair johnson) 18:39 Today         The costs of hybrid work are greater than working just in the office.

Note (subash tavares) 18:39 Today          The plan for the way forward.

Note (familychandler) 18:38 Today          That physical contact, body language and more are important.

Note (alistair johnson) 18:38 Today         The weather doesn't matter if you live at work.

Note (subash tavares) 18:38 Today          Don't know other people/colleagues.

Note (familychandler) 18:38 Today          That change has happened.

Note (jo stanford) 18:37 Today  The old world was comfortable and fit the status and skills of the leaders.

Note (alistair johnson) 18:37 Today         You know more about the weather when you have to commute.

Note (rachel jenkins2) 18:37 Today         That we need to change.

Note (knowledgehub) 18:37 Today          People have to be in the office to get things done.

Note (subash tavares) 18:37 Today          What their current role is.

Note (pentacle brasil) 18:37 Today          Hybrid work could be a way forward.

Note (jo stanford) 18:36 Today                  We will miss the opportunity to transform now and the closed-mindset leaders with paper wings will prevent genuine transformation.

Note (familychandler) 18:36 Today          The new world is here, lets embrace it.

Note (knowledgehub) 18:35 Today          The workplace revolution is not black or white but shades of grey.

Note (alistair johnson) 18:35 Today         Did you know it's raining outside?

Note (pentacle brasil) 18:35 Today          Collaboration is key for project/change success.

Note (jo stanford) 18:34 Today  Quick-fix solutions not long-term sustainable improvements.

Note (subash tavares) 18:34 Today          Keeping staff connected.

Note (knowledgehub) 18:34 Today          The office is dead ... long live the office.

Note (alistair johnson) 18:34 Today         Everyone and no one to return to the office.

Note (jo stanford) 18:34 Today  Access to virtual technology isn't equal for all and isn't compatible for collaboration.

Note (jo stanford) 18:33 Today  Skills not taught to thrive in the new virtual world.