"In a world made small by the Internet, educated knowledge workers will be able to live anywhere and work for anyone. No longer will residence in a developed and prosperous country entitle one to a well-paid job and a high standard of living. Education, not location, will be the key to economic prosperity." (John Chambers, CEO Cisco Systems, quote in PC Week, 4/28/99, p.63)

 

Universal connectivity introduces the potential for a global workforce where the connection between employer and employee exists over the communication network and not via geographic proximity. This is "telecommuting" in its most radical form.

The Masie Center in Saratoga Springs is a good example of this new style of virtual business. Elliott and Kathy Masie hire almost no staff, yet operate a technology think tank with an international clientele. When staff are needed for specific projects, they subcontract the work to interested colleagues who need not reside locally and who exchange information via the Internet. This both evades the overhead associated with a large permanent staff as well as giving them access to the finest resources for each project.

Large software corporations, such as Oracle, now operate subsidiaries in nations such as India and Russia where they can hire highly skilled programmers at much lower cost than comparably skilled individuals in the United States. Engineers in the US draft the software performance specifications, which are then sent via the Internet to the overseas subsidiaries where the code it written and tested. American consumers have grown accustomed to manufacturing jobs moving overseas, will the Internet promote a similar migration of technical and professional jobs?

Can radical telecommuting work?

The creation of a shared vision and culture is critical to the growth of a successful corporation. Can this be established via electronic ties such as e-mail, video-conferencing, telephones, and faxes? Are the water cooler, corporate cafeteria, and conference table essential tools for building a shared vision?

Conversely, here's an account of a couple that tours the world while continuing to work as a technical writer for a Silicon Valley company. Is telecommuncation the dawn of a a new freedom for skilled workers?

Will telecommuting lead to a greater sense of isolation within society?

Suburbanization isolated communities by economic status. Will telecommuting lead to even greater isolation by creating virtual on-line communities. If one's professional colleagues is a loose collection of very similar individuals worldwide, what happens to one's sense of neighborhood and one's commitment to the local community?

Conversely, can telecommuting lead to stronger local communities?

In the past, community residents who desire more exciting and fulfilling employment might be forced to relocate the family and sever local ties. Through telecommuting, that person can remain an active part of the community and not limit the employment search to the local area. This could be particularly valuable to two-career families where it may be difficult to find quality employment for both family members.