Mga makabagong ideya ukol sa trabaho

Workplace trends of the future
By ANA CAROLINA JAVIER-ANTONIO
(Taken from the Manila Bulletin; 11 January 2009; Page B-3)

People work around the clock in today's "flat" economy, with colleagues and companies collaborating around the world. The workplace is being shaped by young workers who want to be challenged and fast-tracked to success. They expect flexible work options and access to social networking tools that enable them to learn on the job.
Such transformations are affecting what workers expect of their employers - and what organizations are doing to attract and retain people. Over the next three years, we expect that workers lives will change through major innovations:

You'll be more likely to work at home than at the office

Millions of people around the world telecommute, and that number is expected to grow. Therefore you, or people you know, will want to work virtually, and employers will listen. Organizations will come to realize that mobility is good business, especially in areas with limited or no mass transit. Studies show that less commuting means more productivity, better worker retention, less stress, and time to handle personal issues - plus environmental benefits such as lower greenhouse emissions.
More employers will provide workers with with the technology and support they need to successfully work at home. This will require the proper tools and training to help workers stay productive. And bosses will learn how to manage for results - and not focus on the fact that someone is sitting at their desk.

Your next job will be "hybrid"

The IT job market hasn't been this strong since the late 1990's. While the demand for "hard" IT skills - such as security architects or database administrators - remains robust, pure tech skills may no longer be enough.
We're the dawn of "hybrid" jobs - where technologies with backgrounds in natural sciences, languages and social sciences will be at the center of real innovation in business. More companies will look for polymaths of all kinds - such as meteorologists, biologists or psychologists who understand computer systems. They can make a real impact helping cities reduce pollution, or helping people make sense of the explosion of information.
We're already seeing plenty of "hybrid" jobs today. For example, IBM is looking for someone in the field of healthcare informatics. It requires a background in public healthcare combined with an understanding of back-end IT systems. The person will develop systems for IBM's healthcare clients in the area of securing and managing digital health records, and analyzing and understanding clinical data. They could create a tool to predict how an emerging infectious disease, such as bird flu, is spreading or mutating - which ultimately could help drug makers develop an effective vaccine.

Volunteering will help your career - and bottomline results

According to 2008 IBM Global CEO Study, corporate social responsibility is an important issue for chief executives. As a result, the lines between work, life and volunteering will blur. You'll expect that what you learn and do at work can also be used in community efforts to make the world a better place. You'll learn valuable skills at the same time - such as negotiation, motivation and people management.
Today, many companies offer volunteer opportunities for which employees can sign on to help their charity of choice. But the measurable result or actual impact is difficult to determine. Instead, companies will begin to attack problems as a whole and on significant initiatives. we are seeing some of this already on an ad hoc basis. Companies involved in engineering have banded together in Engineer's Week (EWeek) to approach thousands of children around the world and spread the word of engineering, science and math.

You'll only be as good as your network - and the contributions you make to this network

Once upon a time, everyone worked for a boss who sat in the corner office, surrounded by his staff. In the future, your boss may work in another city or country, and so will the people you count on to get things done. You'll work on virtual teams and may never see your closest colleague. your companies will be defined by ideas, people, and resources, not by buildings.
So what happens to things associated with a traditional face-to-face office environment, such as building a sense of trust and urgency? You'll base your workday and decisions on community-based, anytime/anywhere collaboration. through special search and analytic software, you'll find experts inside and outside your organization who can help you solve problems. Instant messaging, blogging, and other teaming tools will empower you to simplify, collaborate, react, change, and innovate in real time, connecting people to people, and people to information.
As the world becomes more global and collaborative, all these trends will transform where, when and how you get work done in the 21st century workforce.


(Ana Carolina Javier-Antonio is currently the HR Partner for IBM Philippines. She has been with IBM for 22 years and have personally experienced change from the traditional structured office to a more dynamic workplace. She is a graduate of St. Paul College Manila and is married with two children.)