BID-755 — Managing the Distributed
The traditional image of a supervisor or manager is someone whose staff works within a very close proximity - sometimes measured in feet - from the manager's office. Today, that form of supervision is fast becoming the exception rather than the rule. Organizations of all types and sizes are increasingly distributed or dispersed, and managers today need to manage with their brains, not their eyeballs. This workshop will introduce you to some of the key trends in this new form of working that has evolved in the last quarter-century. It includes everything from the familiar kinds of mobile work (such as sales reps, installers, consultants, inspectors and other "road warriors") to newer variations such as telecommuting or telework (where salaried employees work one or more days from home on a regular basis) as well as so-called "virtual organizations" where few if any employees work in a typical office setting. Today's knowledge workers can and do work just about anywhere. Done well, this brings payoffs for employers and employees alike - but it requires a different way of thinking about supervision, as well as paying attention to certain technology, policy, and social or cultural factors. If you're looking to understand how your organization can benefit from these "un-office" forms of office work - or if you've already implemented and have questions about moving ahead, this workshop is for you!