roundtable


Friend highlighted that businesses need to be successful in ways that are not just work-orientated. Hence good CSR programmes bring a company’s value- culture to external audiences, while ‘rewarding’ employees through their achievement of worthwhile community support.


De Vince noted that work was no longer just a money provider. The intertwining of work with employee lifestyles was creating more enjoyable workplaces, breaking down barriers and unnecessary formalities. “Take business dress-codes. In a few years time, no-one will wear ties.”


Technology is a great help . . . but can you pass the gravy?


Pace of change was the biggest working life difference, stated Gidar. “What used to happen within 20 years now happens in 3-5 years.” Technology advances were enabling change, and younger digitally- aware staff often drove it. He knew of one new recruit briefed on a company’s computer systems in his first month, who was suggesting system improvements to senior staff within the next.


Within his head office, mobile and laptop technology had blurred work-life but enabled necessary 24/7 staff contact. “With everything on a server, there’s no need for paperwork. We all log-in from anywhere, it’s so much easier.”


Murray questioned if visual tech-comms such as videocams would become the future for remote workers and multi-site international organisations.


Gold Care Homes holds regular managerial meetings via Skype, said Gidar. “We want our managers in our care homes, not head office.” Videocams could help enhance residents’ lifestyles through better awareness of their needs, but personal permissions would be required.


Although some remote workers might find videocams in the home intrusive, Friend recalled a company with global employees that held its Christmas office party by Skype, with dinners and presents personally delivered to individual workplaces.


“How did they pass the gravy?” quipped Witchalls.


Stamatis queried where the work-life privacy line would be drawn. Effectively, as technology advances, workers could become totally trackable.


Legal disclaimers could overcome such privacy problems, De Vince mentioned. “In terms of live access it probably comes down to personal feelings, and whether it helps make communication work better for you and your company.”


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – DECEMBER 2017


Maybe it’s a generational thing wondered Stamatis. The youth of today seems to have no qualms about sharing details of its personal lifestyle on social media.


Friend felt videocams might also reveal workstyle differences within multi-site organisations. Careful implementation would be needed to avoid problematic internal comparisons.


Automation, robots . . . and a new type of Fax


Murray suggested an upcoming conflict between humanity and technology.


“It‘s already happening,” stated Thomas, noting the wealth of online information available in the property sector – via Google Earth and Street View, planning and ownership records etc. “We are not yet capitalising through greater productivity on what is already there.”


Murray: “With automation, robotics, and AI (artificial intelligence) advancing, what will we need humans for in some workplaces – maybe just creative thinking and emotional intelligence?”


Stamatis mentioned the development of robotic pets for improving elderly wellbeing. “These robots have sensors for data collection – motion and smoke detection, for instance – and they look like something between a cat and a fox.” (“A new type of ‘Fax’ then,” murmured a Roundtabler.)


Gidar highlighted that certain personal functions in care homes definitely required the human touch, and bedside sensors already existed to alert staff of residents’ issues and needs.


The issue with productivity was that technology advancements had raised management and regulatory expectations. “It is all about prevention and outcomes for us, ultimately saving money for the NHS.” The volume and sophistication of information available was simply taking more time to process.


Automatic data sensors were now installed in ‘smart buildings’ Stamatis noted “You can make a building intelligent in that sense, but what do you do with the information? The human skill is being able to analyse it.”


Thomas mentioned 3D-printing of buildings; Murray queried if robotic construction of homes could be achieved.


Witchalls: “In years to come I guess all manual tasks will be done by robotic machines.”


Highlighting modular home manufacture, Stamatis quoted William Gibson: “The future is already here – it’s just not very evenly distributed.”


businessmag.co.uk 35 Sarah Friend THAMES 250 VALLEY ®


David Murray


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