Abstract
As the virtual pipelines are laid to extend the reach of broadband connectivity to remote locations and to increase capacity on already available locations, connectivity and availability with those previously unreachable is increasing as well. The connectivity barriers are constantly being reduced as the broadband reach extends. The breakdown of connectivity barriers causes a dramatic change in the “work-space” and “work-place.” In an information age, where the work output is mostly digital and easily transmitted in the broadband medium, the pressing need for physical interaction in the workplace is diminishing. Add to that the growing technology that digitizes the human senses (auditory and visual), virtual communication methods allow for increased remote interaction. In this chapter, we discuss the evolving nature of the “work-space” and “work-place.” In the past few years, the digitization of work along with the increasingly expanding and accelerating rate of connectivity resulted in the evolution (or revolution) currently underway.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Telegeography (2011) Global internet map 2011. http://www.telegeography.com/telecom-resources/map-gallery/global-Internet-map-2011/index.html. Accessed Sept 2011
MarketingCharts.com (2011) European E-Commerce to reach 323 Billion Euros in 2011. http://www.marketingcharts.com/direct/european-e-commerce-to-reach-323-billion-euros-in-2011-1239/emarketer-europe-ecommerce-salesjpg/. Accessed Sept 2011
Rane A, Agrawal T (2011) The future of workplaces. http://livingworkplace.skype.com. Accessed Sept 2011
Cisco (2010) Cisco visual networking index: forecast and methodology. http://www.cisco.com/en/US/solutions/collateral/ns341/ns525/ns537/ns705/ns827/white_paper_c11-481360_ns827_Networking_Solutions_White_Paper.html. Accessed Sept 2011
Marketwire (2010) US broadband subscribers will reach 98 Million. by 2014. http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/us-broadband-subscribers-will-reach-98-million-by-2014-1349951.htm. Accessed Sept 2011
Ware J, Grantham C (2010) Managing a remote workforce: proven practices from successful leaders. http://www.workshifting.com/2010/10/managing-a-remote-workforce-proven-practices-from-successful-leaders.html. Accessed Sept 2011
Preston J (2011) Social media history becomes a new job hurdle. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/21/technology/social-media-history-becomes-a-new-job-hurdle.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2. Accessed Sept 2011
Manjoo F (2011) Is wikipedia a victim of its own success? The New York Times. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1924492,00.html. Accessed Sept 2011
Seeking Alpha (2011) Music industry downfall: The rise of social streaming. seeking alpha. http://seekingalpha.com/article/76980-music-industry-downfall-the-rise-of-social-streaming. Accessed Sept 2011
Kaplan J (2011) How SMBs can save money using SaaS. http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/entdev/article.php/3803136/How-SMBs-Can-Save-Money-Using-SaaS.htm. Accessed Sept 2011
IDC (2001) Growing mobile workforce demands application access. IDC executive brief. http://support.citrix.com/servlet/KbServlet/download/2868-102-9364/IDC_Growing%2520Mobile%2520Workforce%2520Demands.pdf. Accessed Aug 2011
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Passerini, K., Tarabishy, A., Patten, K. (2012). The Changing Nature of “Workspace” and “Workplace:” What It Means for SMEs. In: Information Technology for Small Business. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3040-7_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3040-7_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-3039-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-3040-7
eBook Packages: Business and EconomicsBusiness and Management (R0)