The new way of working: Bricks, bytes, and behavior

Abstract

The world in which we work is changing. Information technologies transform our work environment, providing the fl exibility of when and where to work. With the changes in the way we work, the role of the workplace is changing as well. Offi ces transform from dull production facilities to inspiring meeting places, in which no effort is spared to create a new sense and experience of work. Employees engage in a working relationship that suits them best in terms of ambition, skills, lifestyle, and stage of life. The New Way of Working is a relatively new phenomenon that provides the context for these developments. It consists of three distinct pillars that are referred to as Bricks, Bytes, and Behavior: the work location, use of ICT, and the employee-manager relation. The New Way of Working employees have the freedom to work when and where they are most productive. This freedom is based on mutual trust instead of managerial control and on results instead of presence. Research shows that after the implementation of the New Way of Working, employees experience more job autonomy, a higher level of job satisfaction, decreased levels of stress, and a more peaceful family life. Though the New Way of Working may not be a cure for all organizational illnesses, organizations need to realize that in an ever-changing world, changes in the way we work are inevitable.