A radical experiment at Zappos may herald the emergence of a new, more democratic kind of organization.
Source: Zappos is Leading the Way for Bossless Companies – The Atlantic
This article posits that the proliferation of information and communications technology (ICT) is driving decision-making to lower levels of the traditional hierarchical organization, making its top-down, command and control management structure based on all information flowing upward less necessary.
As more knowledge jobs go virtual and eliminate the daily trek to commute-in offices, location for some still matters. But rather than a specific metro region, the time zone in which the knowledge worker lives is showing up as requirement in job postings for virtual positions. Such as this one posted this week — and quickly filled — seeking applicants residing in the U.S. Eastern Time Zone.
LAC Group is seeking a full-time, experienced, Research Analyst, to work virtually for our Library as a Service (LaaS) platform. The Research Analyst will staff a busy and diverse virtual research desk, performing and managing requests for legal, corporate, business development and other research from LaaS clients. All research and communication will be performed online and by phone, using both paid databases and open sources. The Research Analyst will report directly to the Research Manager and work with other analysts to complete research requests in a timely, professional, and cost effective manner. Research will be delivered directly to clients using a virtual reference desk platform.
This is a full-time virtual position. Candidates must reside in the Eastern time zone.
Ever made the daily trip to the office and wondered why you spent the time and effort getting there simply to write reports and memos, make phone calls and exchange emails and chat messages with colleagues and have an occasional meeting?
Plus knowing you have easily started on those communication and collaboration activities in your home office or community co-working space not long after waking and having your first cup of coffee, boosting your productivity while gaining more control over your work schedule?
In today’s world with information and communication technology more readily available almost everywhere, is it really necessary to make the commute to a distant office every morning and back home at the end of the work day?
Plenty of today’s knowledge workers are increasingly asking themselves these questions. Pressed for time with their busy daily schedules, they need more of it every day for exercise and sleep and spending time with their families and in their communities. Particularly when health experts are sounding the alarm over a rise in costly, chronic health conditions that can be prevented or reduced with more healthful lifestyles.
Their organizations are also re-examining the need for commute-in offices and the large cost of maintaining those spaces – especially when their staff members don’t necessarily want or need them.
The questions from organizations as well as those who work with them represent a tipping point that is being reached in the transition between the Industrial Age of the twentieth century – when work was centralized in offices and factories and people went “to” work — and the information and work anywhere, anytime era of the twenty-first when work comes to people.
A new eBook, Last Rush Hour: The Decentralization of Knowledge Work in the Twenty-First Century, describes the forces driving this transition and how it will benefit individuals and organizations and ultimately how it will impact where people choose to live and work.
The book is thoroughly researched, containing nearly 100 reference citations. Last Rush Hour is available through all major online book retailers including Amazon, iBooks and other online eBook retailers.