Covid-19 pandemic is unique in a way that it has forced the mankind to introspect, analyze and execute like nothing earlier. The world has seen profound organizational and societal shifts. The landslide shifts in project workforce management, physical and mental health have paved way to redesign the way of working and deliver value to the projects.
As organizations see a return of the workforce to the offices, opportunities open up for creating a new habitat for an optimal and symbiotic working. The last 2 years, saw technology as a "savior" and an "enabler" to get work going and save workforce from losing their jobs. However, one of the biggest challenges was integrating humans with the technology to create a shared and safe ecosystem of working. After all, regardless of the type of work model, its all about getting the value to the client
With the world on its way to resume "in office" working, return of workforce needs such as physical and psychological wellbeing; ethical implications of business/regulatory decisions, connection with the work, ethical conundrums in virtual working are paramount to address.
Would like to hear from you all on this. Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Hi Deepa, good to hear from you.
My thoughts on your questions are
- many teams learned to collaborate well remotely and using technology to even improve communication, I doubt that those teams see a benefit in going back to office
- maybe except socialising, but which is better done in a restaurant than an office
- other teams will be forced back to office, mainly by management which mentally sticks to a command/control way of working
- as we have seen, working remotely offers many advantages if managed carefully, which includes having a well equipped and separated home office
Stay safe, Thomas
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2 replies by Dr. Deepa Bhide
Mar 08, 2022 10:50 AM
Dr. Deepa Bhide
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Thomas, thank you for those excellent points. I so agree with them. I see that change management and justifying working from office is going to be difficult/challenging, unless for some contracts are written that way. I see a different work model evolving and think that its yet to firm up to a full-blown shape. Will be interesting to see.
Thanks again for your comments.
Mar 08, 2022 10:05 PM
Dr. Deepa Bhide
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Denathayalan, thank you for the comment. Agree with your comment. How would a framework for this hybrid model look like when the projects are not run by SCRUM methodology? Will there be say a set of 4 or 5 frameworks to suit some known project types? Also, with each of these frameworks, there will be pros and cons that may interest stakeholders.
That way clients/organizations can choose a work model that will ensure success for the project
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Let me say COVID-19 just accelerate the adoption of a model that is there from year 2000 at least. Lot of people working remote before zoom or other media exists, just with a phone call, delivering very important projects around the world. In fact, companies take advantage of it to gain into agility for moving their specific business unit along the world when the local conditions inside a country add value for getting company objectives. So, nothing new below the sun. There is no competitive advantage for companies in getting their people inside a building with offices instead of let them working remote. For example, think in the amount of time it takes to move from home to the office.
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1 reply by Dr. Deepa Bhide
Mar 08, 2022 10:54 AM
Dr. Deepa Bhide
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Thanks Sergio. I agree with you that the pandemic reinstated the belief that work can be done from at home or non-office premises. The technology accelerated its pace too and today we see both in their evolved forms.
Going forward, do you think there will be any compelling need/business objective for people to be in office? What ethical situations will arise in this new evolved model?
My thoughts on your questions are
- many teams learned to collaborate well remotely and using technology to even improve communication, I doubt that those teams see a benefit in going back to office
- maybe except socialising, but which is better done in a restaurant than an office
- other teams will be forced back to office, mainly by management which mentally sticks to a command/control way of working
- as we have seen, working remotely offers many advantages if managed carefully, which includes having a well equipped and separated home office
Stay safe, Thomas
Thomas, thank you for those excellent points. I so agree with them. I see that change management and justifying working from office is going to be difficult/challenging, unless for some contracts are written that way. I see a different work model evolving and think that its yet to firm up to a full-blown shape. Will be interesting to see.
Thanks again for your comments. Saving Changes...
Let me say COVID-19 just accelerate the adoption of a model that is there from year 2000 at least. Lot of people working remote before zoom or other media exists, just with a phone call, delivering very important projects around the world. In fact, companies take advantage of it to gain into agility for moving their specific business unit along the world when the local conditions inside a country add value for getting company objectives. So, nothing new below the sun. There is no competitive advantage for companies in getting their people inside a building with offices instead of let them working remote. For example, think in the amount of time it takes to move from home to the office.
Thanks Sergio. I agree with you that the pandemic reinstated the belief that work can be done from at home or non-office premises. The technology accelerated its pace too and today we see both in their evolved forms.
Going forward, do you think there will be any compelling need/business objective for people to be in office? What ethical situations will arise in this new evolved model?
Thanks for your comments Saving Changes...
Denathayalan RamasamyChief Technology Officer| Atal Incubation Centre -CIICChennai, Tamilnadu, India
Stakeholder analysis & Team charter are important documents to be updated for this scenario.
Based on Scrum master evaluation on team speed & required velocity of the project, Hybrid model could be followed.
1day @office & 4 days@ WFH - if PO & SM has control over product & SCRUM retrospective respectively
2 days @ office & 3 days @WFH - with 75% control
3days @ office & 2 days@ WFH - With 50% control
4 days@ Office & 1 day@WFH - when SM & PO are not synergized
5 days at office for operation jobs or firefighting mode projects Saving Changes...
As Denathayalan said, the Hybrid model is a good approach that can be followed. Once Covid-19 has forced us to adopt new forms of working, we now can extract the best benefices of on-office and remote working. Combining both would make the Enterprise obtain better results. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
I expect the Great Resignation might impact the return to office as it was before. Many people started pushing back during the pandemic; I don't think they are going to stop now. If their employer can't accommodate their life balance, they will likely find one who does. (Many organizations saw productivity go up with remote work. They won't want to lose that gain.)
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1 reply by Dr. Deepa Bhide
Mar 08, 2022 10:07 PM
Dr. Deepa Bhide
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I agree. People have now worked their way to get to a balance in their personal and professional spaces. The pandemic has forced them too. I doubt if they will now be ready for a pre-pandemic work. However, how will the organizations react to this?
My thoughts on your questions are
- many teams learned to collaborate well remotely and using technology to even improve communication, I doubt that those teams see a benefit in going back to office
- maybe except socialising, but which is better done in a restaurant than an office
- other teams will be forced back to office, mainly by management which mentally sticks to a command/control way of working
- as we have seen, working remotely offers many advantages if managed carefully, which includes having a well equipped and separated home office
Stay safe, Thomas
Denathayalan, thank you for the comment. Agree with your comment. How would a framework for this hybrid model look like when the projects are not run by SCRUM methodology? Will there be say a set of 4 or 5 frameworks to suit some known project types? Also, with each of these frameworks, there will be pros and cons that may interest stakeholders.
That way clients/organizations can choose a work model that will ensure success for the project Saving Changes...
I expect the Great Resignation might impact the return to office as it was before. Many people started pushing back during the pandemic; I don't think they are going to stop now. If their employer can't accommodate their life balance, they will likely find one who does. (Many organizations saw productivity go up with remote work. They won't want to lose that gain.)
I agree. People have now worked their way to get to a balance in their personal and professional spaces. The pandemic has forced them too. I doubt if they will now be ready for a pre-pandemic work. However, how will the organizations react to this?
...
1 reply by Stéphane Parent
Mar 09, 2022 11:53 AM
Stéphane Parent
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There will be as many different organization reactions as there are organizations. There will be a spectrum of reactions, from intransigence--remember Yahoo's CEO decision?--all the way to flexibility.
Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Thanks Thomas. The article, in my opinion, starts with a strong story of the points around workplace but then deflects to the equality and manager/leadership styles etc which have existed pre-pandemic too. Eg, managers making workplace an equal opportunity field or creating opportunities etc.
I was trying to read what exact challenges are presenting now or are likely to present now with the return to office of the workforce.
