Dave Desforges began piloting "Work From Home" solutions over 3 years ago. His role required identifying additional candidate requirements and necessary remote work practices for both employees and managers at Sun Microsystems. His current work encompasses blending appropriate technology, organizational practices, and workplace environments to support mobile and distributed teams.
Jim McGee is currently a Director at Huron Consulting Group. He has spent much of the last 30 years working to understand, design, and apply information and technology innovations in organizations. Before Huron, Jim taught at the Kellogg School and was one of the founding partners of DiamondCluster International. With Larry Prusak, he was the co-author of Managing Information Strategically (Wiley, 1993). Jim has both an MBA and a doctorate in Information Technology, Organization, and Strategy from the Harvard Business School.
Regina Miller has more than 18 years of experience in Organization Development, Human Resources, Leadership Development and International Operations. Regina recently launched a global consultancy called The Seventh Suite which assists growing companies bolster their competitive edge via aligned strategy and progressive people practices. Her last corporate job was as the VP HR/OD for Oskar (Vodafone) which has been dubbed “one of the fastest growing mobile operators in Eastern Europe.” More info here.
Giovanni Rodriguez - Through a combination of luck and persistence, Giovanni has worked in the company of some of the most interesting and colorful leaders in several worlds: the law, theater, and technology. Today, he is a principal at Eastwick Communications, a Silicon Valley PR agency, where he advises both emerging companies and market leaders on executive leadership, public speaking, marketing strategy and media relations. He has worked for, consulted and advised numerous businesses and organizations including HP, Stanford University, Fujitsu Computer Systems, Cadence Design Systems, VMware, the American Arbitration Association, and the Unified Court System of New York. He is a graduate of Princeton University (Religion and Anthropology), and he has done graduate course work at the Columbia School of Journalism and N.Y.U.
Jim Ware is a cofounder of the Work Design Collaborative and the Future of Work program. He has over 30 years experience in research, executive education, consulting, and management, including five years on the faculty of the Harvard Business School. He was the lead author of The Search for Digital Excellence, (McGraw-Hill, 1998), and holds Ph.D., M.A., and B.Sc. degrees from Cornell University and an MBA (With Distinction) from the Harvard Business School.
14. Arlan Dean on
Bob Sutton on Crappy People versus Crappy Systems
Building robust systems. Whatta concept! First you need a committee to reach a consensus on what a robust system is, then a task force to appoint another committee to discuss it further. Throw in a few systems consultants to make pretty diagrams and a few presentations. Let's not forget the project manager brought in from the outside (waaaay outside!) to take the blame when the "Robust Systems Initiative" flounders...
Actually I agree with you 200%. I'm a true believer in the power o
››› October 25, 2006 06:01 PM
15. Anupam Jain on
Living the Google Life
As Google continues to emerge as one of the biggest players in information revolution, I am surprised how it has changed my life in the recent years.
››› October 25, 2006 12:45 AM
18. Alex on
A reading list for aspiring knowledge workers
Information Anxiety is one on your list that struck me. Anxiety is such an issue today that people do not know how to cope with. The books on your list look very helpful. Thank you for this.
››› August 19, 2006 11:21 AM
19.
Naomi on
Balancing diligence and laziness
For 'stupid', maybe a better word is 'uninspired'. That at least suggests that the work of the organisation is to help inspire its workforce. Rather than teach them something. And it makes more sense on a spectrum - from 'uninspired' to 'source of innovation'. Otherwise it looks like it's not really possible to move from one corner to another.
››› August 17, 2006 04:13 AM
20.
Richard Tabor Greene on
Balancing diligence and laziness
The old 1990s book Intellectual Teamwork had chapters on product development research showing that technologies connecting everyone were reducing isolation and stopping creativity by doing so. Parts of concept development require isolation.
At General Motors EDS in 1986 a Chief Engineer lambasted EDS computer folk for "getting wastes" out of processes--reflection, evaluation, insight, and mental experiments went on during such "wastes"--EDS was driving all that thought out of exist
››› August 15, 2006 12:19 PM
21.
Dean on
Balancing diligence and laziness
I know that in my own organization, which is the essence of keeping your head down and pencil wagging, we tend to come up with insights and ideas that get put into play, that are most effective when we pause for a moment, pose some questions, mull things over, let it simmer for a bit, and then act. Once we get out of the rapid fire staccato of act, act, act, there is a natural flow that is amazing to watch. Problem is we rarely do it. People rarely take the opportunity, even when offered o
››› July 25, 2006 11:23 PM
22.
Pat R. on
The Play Ethic at Work
Feudalism remnants like the patriarchy can lease the residues of master/servant protocol that produces oppressive work environments, especially in view of a nation widely diverse in race, ethnicity and gender.
Employee perspective might be used in a number of ways to make workplaces friendly to all employees, reduce harassment claims, prevent danger of future violence, and/or to identify the needs of employees that may increase loyalty and dedication. It might also be used to judge t
››› July 15, 2006 08:24 PM
23. Mike Levin of HitTail on
Go to the head of the distribution by explaining the tail
Ironic that a book proclaiming the decline of the hit is bound to end up as one. Anyway, we're big fans of Chris, and developed the first pure marketing application of long tail theory, HitTail. Feel free to check it out. We'll see anyone who's going to be at the NYC event tomorrow.
››› July 11, 2006 05:03 PM
24. Chinarut on
A reading list for aspiring knowledge workers
very nice list of books! without reading your entry in detail and just scanning your books, Learning as a Way of Being catches my attention and glad to see you have GTD on your list - invite you to participate in this conversation:
http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2027
cheers!
››› July 3, 2006 04:06 AM
25. Zahid Ayar on
A reading list for aspiring knowledge workers
Hello,
these look like some helpful books in helping us to pass our time in a more effective way in terms of utilizing the knowledge around us in productive and beneficial ways to people and ourselves.
a 3d tool that you can use to manage and organize all your knowledge is Nelements. Find out more info here.
››› July 2, 2006 06:32 PM
26. Kris Olsen on
The Wikiwise 50 -- Call for Submissions
Giovanni - I was a regular reader of Future Tensefor a long time and I hope your perspective brings some fresh insight (especially in the wiki arena!) Looking forward to your continued contributions.
››› June 12, 2006 01:16 PM
27. Jim Ware on
The Wikiwise 50 -- Call for Submissions
Giovanni, I just posted a short note on the Future of Work blog about this new initiative. Wanted to Trackback to this post, but couldn't find the link.
››› June 6, 2006 05:42 PM
29. teppo on
A reading list for aspiring knowledge workers
I was somewhat disappointed to see what this list contained - but I suppose I will have to compile a better one before complaining too loudly.
In terms of writing - the below are great resources (though perhaps somewhat more geared toward academic audiences).
* Deidre McCloskey has a succinct book titled Economical Writing. The book gives quick tips to improve writing, excellent for polishing up a final draft.
* The Craft of Research provides a simple guide for
››› June 6, 2006 01:02 AM
30. Andrew Mitchell on
The Wikiwise 50 -- Call for Submissions
Great initative Giovanni. I'll promote it on my blog. I'm looking forward to reading the organisations that you feature. I hope to be able to make a submission but the time is not yet right.
››› June 6, 2006 12:52 AM
35. Patricia Ryan Madson on
A reading list for aspiring knowledge workers
Thanks for including IMPROV WISDOM: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up (Bell Tower) on your list. It is an honor to be part of this distinguished group of books. I appreciate that you could see the value of improvising to the business world. We are all improvising most of our lives, so why not do it like a pro? I am indebted to Erik Hansen (www.tompeters.com) for turning me on to your site and to this list.
A recommendation for this list is the wonderful book by Dan Pink, A Whole New Mind
››› May 31, 2006 04:54 PM
38. Clair Ching on
A reading list for aspiring knowledge workers
This is a nice list. I will take note of it and bookmark it on del.icio.us :)
By the way, I have noticed that there are some spam comments on this post already. I hope that you get to deal with them soon too :)
››› May 19, 2006 12:27 AM
39.
Pat lake on
Deliverables - the fundamental secret to improving knowledge work
I agree with Jim that deliverables can be difficult to identify in knowledge work. I find that one critical element in helping to clearly pinpoint the deliverables is to spend sufficient time with the client up front clarifying what it is he or she hopes to receive, experience, etc. as a result of the knowledge work. In other words, contracting for specific deliverables. Drawing these out usually requires skillful consulting techniques on the part of the knowledge work provider in order to en
››› April 29, 2006 05:39 PM
40.
Dave on
A reading list for aspiring knowledge workers
Jim,
Great list. Seconds on Thinking for a Living. I teach a graduate level class in collaboration technologies, and this is one of the texts I use. Another one for your list: Geography of Thought, by Nesbitt. It's a very readable treatise on the essential differences between Western and Eastern thought.
››› March 20, 2006 04:54 PM
41.
Jack on
A reading list for aspiring knowledge workers
Jim,
One nice book to let you know: China's Gloal Reach: Markets, Multinationals, and Globalization by a high-profile Chinese commentator George Zhibin Gu. It is arguably the best book on current global affairs and China. It contains vast cutting-edge ideas on global business and politics. It is a must-read to understand global trends that affect everyone, especially the Americans.
››› March 13, 2006 11:04 PM
42.
doug on
One of the "Entitlement Generation" Speaks Out
Entitlement generation is a decent term for the generation in question, but I have a better name...THE BABYSITTING GENERATION. I am CONSTANTLY doing all the things parents do for their children on a daily basis!!! I should charge parents a babysitting fee for watching their 20 something infants! Calling to see why they are late, taking care of them when they are sick, dealing with their hangovers and all night x-box party. Seriously,there are standards for he work force, why do we older gener
››› January 27, 2006 07:41 AM
43.
Sheena on
Telecommuting Takes a Direct Hit from the Supreme Court
I've worked in TN for years and I can verify that there's no income tax in TN. At least not for a normal employment with W2 tax term. A self-employed, contract situation may be different.
››› January 9, 2006 02:32 PM
45.
Frank Walsh on
Something's Happening Here....
This is a disappointingly pessimistic article. Frankly I’m surprised that Jim demonstrates such mistrust in the effectiveness of a free market. I haven’t noticed this in his writing before.
I must say I do not agree with the general sentiment of this. At my company, we recognize the challenges of globalization and distributed work and we are working hard to communicate with our people to help them understand how the nature of work is changing for them.
Sure, there is much
››› December 15, 2005 09:36 PM
46.
eddie willers on
Something's Happening Here....
I think in the short term we are seeing the last gasp of the management as gods paradigm. At the end of all empires, the most gold is grabbed by those who are entrenched. Information technology, the need for speed, the need to make decisions, etc will all dis-empower the existing power structures. A lot of the gate keepers in corporations will lose their power of information: the accountants, purchasing, management as the cost of sharing and processing information decreases.
››› December 11, 2005 10:26 PM
47. mungojelly on
Something's Happening Here....
Welcome to the Singularity. It is not going to become clear any time soon. We are not going to make any sense of these changes before the next ones come. Please buckle in; we are expecting turbulence for the next few decades. <3
››› December 11, 2005 01:18 PM
48. William Crook on
Where Do You Go to Learn About Distributed Work?
I know of no better tech source for understanding the Future of Work than the blog network called the Web 2.0 Workgroup, which includes blogs like TechCrunch, Read/Write Web, and others focused on the new 2-way, distributed, social applications of the next generation Web. Of these, no app better defines where things are heading than BaseCamp, a project of Chicago design firm 37 Signals. BaseCamp is what wiki's and groupware were meant to be-- and it's fundamentally changing the business/corpo
››› December 10, 2005 12:44 AM
49. Stefan Lafloer on
McKinsey on Org Structure
Your comments on the McKinsey article got me interested. So I read the article and posted my thoughts here: http://insightknowledge.blogspot.com/2005/12/mckinsey-recommends-that-new.html - if you are interested.
››› December 6, 2005 01:29 PM
50. Stefan Lafloer on
U.S. Engineers Concerned About Competitiveness
I could not agree more. The combination of
-a weak educational system that focuses on 'old structures' and details and not on innovation, managing change and learning concepts
-the outsourcing not only of manufacturing, but intellectual processes like research and development and others; processes which in the large number create a companies learning and experience - allowing other countries to learn and gather experience
-the fact that the number of science graduates in As
››› December 6, 2005 01:16 PM
Giovanni Rodriguez
Elizabeth Albrycht
Dave Desforges
Jim McGee
Jim Ware
