Telework Exchange - A Public - Private Partnership Focused On Eliminating Telework Gridlock

Great post Josh. I agree that using video/web conferencing is not quite the same as being there, but I can tell you that I Skype with my kids weekly. I just can't figure out why there is still not wide acceptance/usage of this technology for work. Another great tool to build trust in Microsoft Communicator. I highly recommend it. I'll put the boook on managing the mobile workforce on my Kindle wish list.

Thanks for the comment Terry. Just to give everyone a sense of how much video has become new standard, consider that in 2009, Skype calls accounted for 13% of all international calls (www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=31718). Not all of these were video, but many were and with the integration of webcams in most new laptops, video is quickly becoming the new standard. As for Microsoft, they have built a lot of good tools into their standard network configurations to allow better data on who is using what remotely. This will go a long way to help prove that teleworkers are actually working.

We have a robust Telework program where I work, in fact we have approximately 700 people Teleworking one day a week. When the December 27 blizzard struck, we teleworked. Despite the snow and MTA slow downs we did everything we normally do in the office from home. We held meetings, reviewed plans, awarded contracts, you name it we did it. We have now teleworked a total of 7 days due to weather and transit disruptions in the past two months. And just to reinforce it 75% of available workforce teleworked on Friday Feb 18 as part of Telework Week. If we can do it, so can you!

Thanks for the comment. This is a great example of the ROI of continuity planning. Everyone plans for earthquakes, hurricanes and terrorist strikes, but its the ice storm, flood, or power outage that is most likely. Even people who don't "regularly" telework benefit from the "ability" to telework when its not possible or safe to travel to the office.

Josh, I agree with you completely. Technology has enabled this working paradigm shift. Having said that- sometimes, there seems to be too many tools and gadgets that have overlapping features that it can get confusing as to which to use when. This is an area that can be fine tuned and clarified for those individuals that are reluctant to get on the "teleworking bandwagon" because of technology overload.

Thanks Nan. You have hit on one of my pet peeves in the tech world: technology for technology's sake. Technology has one purpose, to solve a problem. When we lose sight of that, it becomes, as a good friend of mine likes to say, a self-licking ice cream cone. If you don't know the problem, you shouldn't be trying to find the answer. There is a lot of whiz bang out there and people who just want to talk about (and buy) the next, best thing. Sometimes the answer is as simple as picking up the phone and calling someone. Sometimes its not, but its always better to define the problem, before you propose the solution.

Thanks Josh! I just made this suggestion to address this to my organization: My suggestion is to develop a “Telework Tools Reference Sheet” containing a list of the applications and gadgets we have available to us with suggestions for when it’s best to use each right next to it; something like this: Lotus Notes E-mail – for lengthy communication or information sharing that requires to be referred back to. Lotus Same Time Connect – for succinct, quick messages (called instant messaging) similar to the kind used when texting. Desk Phone – for making/receivng regular calls and 3 way conference calls while in the office. Blackberry – for making/receiving calls, checking e-mail messages and instant messaging through Lotus Same Time all while mobile. (many more features to add here, but this is a start) Collaboration Site – for posting and sharing documents online with others in the organization. etc., etc., etc.. Of course, this list is applicable primarily to us but it gives you the main idea.

I am still amazed at the discussions concerning teleworking, especially trust issues. In the several years I worked in corporate transportation sales, in an analog environment, my colleagues and I were only in the office one day a week. This was standard in our organization. The telephone was our communications device. Later we added the beeper. There was no issue of trust, we established goals, confirmed the goals and went out and did our jobs, effectively. Today, in a digital environment with numerous (interactive) communications devices, our ability to communicate in real time, in depth and breadth across time zones should be taken for granted. If the organizational culture supports efforts that bring about trust then implementing telework should not present organizational problems.