Articles

The Death of the Office (As We Know It)

CONTRACT MAGAZINE • MAY 2010 • BY GEORGIA COLLINS
“Virtual" in the computational sense of the term, literally means "created. simulated. or carried on by means of a computer or computer network." By this definition, virtual work is nothing new; computers have facilitated our work for many years now. So what is different about virtual work today?

The difference is two-fold: First, the computers we use that enable virtual work are no longer tethered to a desk-or even the office bUilding in which the desk sits. Virtual work enables mobility within and outside the office "box." Second, the rise of computer networks means that computers are no longer just facilitating individual virtual work, they are facilitating virtual collaboration. They are enabling people to meaningfully connect across geographies and time zones in ways that actually enhance individual and group productivity. This of course begs the question: What is the value of physical place when practically everything can be done outside of the office?

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