Is the Third Space Work Trend on Its Way Out?
February 22, 2011 I heard from a colleague yesterday that Google has said it doesn't allow its engineers to 'work from home'. Cisco is now "discouraging" 'working from home' as well. My colleague said 'working from home' did mean third space working.
What's going on here?
One of Cisco's cornerstone products is "Telepresence". They're involved in SmartCities project, have integrated third space AR app WorkSnug into the project. Cisco, a company that less than two years ago touted how they saved $277 million in productivity by allowing employees to work from home 20-100% of the time!
Google through its acquisitions surely knows the value of third space working: third spaces are dens for startups, the types of startups Google is buying up to compete with Facebook.
When I heard this I couldn't figure it out: project based work is emerging as a way that large corporations will maintain their innovation edge as the nature of work evolves. Many third spaces are contextualised by values (sustainability) or speacialty (techHub). Ergo, companies need to encourage their employees to work in third spaces to make connections and draw in new talent with new ideas.
Co-location is a key concept for work productivity: you need to be with the people you work with. Are we starting to see a recognition that physical co-location cannot be substituted for with digital (virtual) co-location?
Of course it can't. Companies that wish to keep their competitive edge in an economy where it's increasingly easy to work for yourself and your values. Companies need links to third spaces -- people driven links.
Are Cisco and Google off their rockers?
Cisco, futurism, google, innovation, work in economic development, futurism, social media
Reader Comments (3)
I have a coworking space in the Netherlands, so possibly I am projecting.
But I don't think so; it seems to me that there is a rising awareness that attempts to go to virtual colocation do not work on a long term basis. Peole are feeling disconnected and they want to feel connected very badly. And the impact is not only on the need to attract employees; physical presence in a location enables you as a company to take part in the community. Hyperlocal approaches with broader, even global support and communication are emerging as the strongest out of the box it seems to me.
I suppose it will all become clear in the fullness of time; but my experience is that people who can thrive on exclusively virtual community are few and far between.
I understand the Netherlands is building coworking spaces into urban planning. As a freelancer who uses a coworking space I know what you mean. It's depressing working by yourself. When I first started freelancing I had no idea there were such things as cowork spaces. More than anything else they are important for emotional support. I would go out to get groceries and end up wanting to have a long conversation with the clerk! I don't know what I'd do without the people I share a workspace with!
Thanks for taking time to comment.
Ann
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