We received our first funding from sponsors in January 2006, so we are now concluding our first year of operation. We decided to take this opportunity to review what the New Ways of Working Network has accomplished during our first year.
SPONSORS
The sponsors for our first year of operation were:
- Haworth
- SMART Technologies, Inc. (Canada)
MEMBERS
Member organizations or individuals as of January 2007 include:
- Gallup Organization
- Jones Lang LaSalle (pending)
- Kokuyo (Japan)
- Eric Richert, Eight Corners Consulting
- Suiteworks (Canada)
- Sun Microsystems
- VTT (Finland)
COLLEAGUES
Colleagues are academics or small consultancies who “earn” their membership by contributing intellectually by participating in symposia or tertulia, participating in web-based discussions, providing access to their research results or papers, etc.
Some of our active colleagues include:
- Pasha Sach Chess, Social Solutions
- David Coleman, Collaborative Strategies
- Prof. Renate Fruchter, Stanford University
- Linda Harasim, University of British Columbia
- Judith Heerwagen, Judith Heerwagen & Associates
- Prof. Fred Litto, School of the Future, University of Sao Paulo
- Joann Pratt, Joanne H. Pratt & Associates
- Prof. Julie Rennecker, Case Western University
- Prof. Diana Seah, San Jose State University
- Prof. Jacquiline Vischer, University of Montreal
NETWORK WEB PAGE
The New Ways of Working web page has been up and running since early 2006. It is an increasingly rich source of reference material, including all New Ways of Working Network publications and research documents which are posted in the library.
As we hoped, the web page is also becoming increasingly interactive. For example, Eric Richert invited comments on two papers he presented to the European Commission on distributed work in the United States, and credits New Ways of Working Network participants for some of the ideas he included in his presentation.
On occasion, Jim Creighton or Joe Ouye have broadcasted an announcement to the entire e-mailing list describing a particularly interesting discussion on-going on the site.
We are in the midst of revamping the opening page that is viewed by non-members and by members when they sign in. We want to make it both more welcoming and informative about the Network. The new public website will allow non-members to view main topics of discussion, summaries of symposia, Tertulias and library documents. We believe a more friendly public website will be helpful in enticing prospective new members to join and in getting attention from search engines.
MONTHLY LITERATURE SCANS
Beginning in the second half of 2006 we began sending out monthly summaries of articles or other interesting material we found in a continual scan of publications and the Internet. June Langhoff, writer/researcher, prepares short synopses and provides URL links for people who want additional information. These monthly bulletins are sent out by e-mail to everyone on our network list, including members, colleagues, and organizations considering membership.
RESEARCH STUDIES
The New Ways of Working Network sponsors reports summarizing the latest research and thinking on topics of priority interest to Network sponsors and members.
Reports prepared during 2006 include:
- An Overview of Remote Virtual Teams and Productivity: A Research Synopsis, June Langhoff, March 2006
- Virtual Team Spaces: What Are They and Why Are They Important. Ann M. Marcus and David Coleman, May 2006
- Does Place Still Matter: The Changing Role of Work and Its Effect on the Workplace, June Langhoff, January 2007
SYMPOSIA
Based on a successful initial symposium, symposia are now semi-annual events. Attendance, to date, has been 15 - 25 persons. Everyone in attendance is an expert on some aspect of new ways of working, so the format is designed for very short presentations by attendees on selected topics, followed by active group discussion.
Symposia during our first year of operation included:
- “The Challenge of a Globally Distributed Workplace,” Hayes Mansion, San Jose, CA, May 31 – June 2, 2006
- “Does Place Still Matter: The Role of the Workplace in a Distributed World,” Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, CA. January 21-23, 2007
TERTULIA
Tertulia are quarterly roundtables held in the San Francisco Bay Area. Each roundtable features a presentation on a topic of common interest, with intensive discussion by all present.
Several of the recent tertulia have been video-recorded and are available for podcast viewing on the NewWow.Net site. Beginning in 2007 we plan to provide live videoconferencing for members outside the Bay Area who want to participate in tertulia.
Tertulia during 2006 included:
- “Generational Forces in the Wiorkplace: What We Know and What it Means;” Greg Dunlap and Lisa Miller, Allsteel; January 26, 2006.
- “Virtual Team Space,” David Coleman, Collaborative Strategies; April 20, 2006.
- “Evidence-Based Design,” Gordon Chong and Bob Brandt, Chong Partner Architects; July 20, 2006.
- “The Impact of the Globally Distributed Workforce on Employee Engagement,” Dean Smith, Gallup Organization, Sept. 21, 2006.
- “Research on Knowledge Transfer and Distributed Work;” Prof. Terri Griffith, Lowery School of Business, University of Santa Clara. Dec. 7, 2006.
Members beyond the Bay Area have expressed an interest in participating in the Tertulias. We are experimenting with different ways of distributing the information from the Tertilias more widely. The December Tertulia was recorded on video “podcast,” and posted on the website for downloading, and we hope to try synchronous broadcasting in the future using tools such as “Bridge-It,” a Smart Technologies system.
