tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902647.post3397235163242521624..comments2024-03-26T05:19:42.852-04:00Comments on Professor Michael Roberto's Blog: Marissa Mayer and the End of Telecommuting at YahooMichael Robertohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01658740999927721412noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902647.post-63542099380709079992013-02-27T09:23:35.140-05:002013-02-27T09:23:35.140-05:00In my job, hallway conversations, discussions over...In my job, hallway conversations, discussions over coffee in the cafeteria, and impromptu talk at someone's cube have all led to significant business decisions. Some of my best work moments have been times when three people gathered over a white board to hash out ideas. <br /><br />I feel that one of the things that makes work fun is the possibility of interacting with other people, sharing your ideas with them and learning something from them in turn. I think work is not just transactional -- its relationship based, and you build friendships at work. You can't build relationships and friendships if you're not present.<br /><br />Besides, when you're face to face, it is so much easier to gage their reaction to a given issue than it is via email. Its also been my observation that if you send people an email, it has a greater chance of being ignored than if you showed up at their cube or office, and asked the same question. <br /><br />There are limited circumstances and jobs where work-from-home can be managed. An example is a competent person who's a parent with kids that wants to work from home one or two days a week. Depending on the nature of the person's job and the person's performance, exceptions can be made. Another set of exceptions is for genuine health reasons.<br /><br />At the end of the day, being a knowledge worker in this economy involves knowledge _exchange_. And that best happens in a work setting.<br /><br />Kudos to Marissa Mayer for bucking the work-from-home meme and standing up for being present.Jagadeesh Venugopalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02003110574960349394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902647.post-78488335015404853512013-02-25T23:43:18.775-05:002013-02-25T23:43:18.775-05:00There are positives and negatives to a blanket pol...There are positives and negatives to a blanket policy such as the one mentioned in this post. I do think there is value in having everyone in the office regardless of job differences. Having a full and interactive office can contribute significantly to building the organizational culture and give employees something to identify with. Could this help if the morale is decreased? Maybe so, but the effort might have to start from the top and trickle down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com