Information Technology and the Transformation of Work

An advertisement and marketing company has 120 employees. Senior management wants to move the whole
company to a virtual environment without the need of real offices. Everybody is asked to work from home.
Develop a strategy that includes the main points how to realize the transition. Be as detailed as possible.
a) First, take the position of senior management and describe their strategy including their expectations of
employee behavior and performance when moved to the new virtual setting.
b) Next, take the position of employees and describe elements of a strategy that would meet their needs and
expectations of company support if they are asked to work from home.
Balancing the needs of the company and the needs of employees, what would be a good final solution - which
needs of employees may be satisfied and which needs may not be met?
Additional information for 1a and 1b:
As senior management, you are concerned about the following aspects:
How to control and manage employee performance?
How to keep the costs for IT equipment and maintenance as low as possible?
How to make sure that cooperation and communication among employees do not decrease?
There may be additional challenges that senior managers are concerned with.
As an employee of the company, you know about some concerns:
You know that it may be difficult for several of your colleagues to work at home (limited space, kids may be at
home at certain times,…)
Many colleagues told you that they are concerned about being isolated and having loose contact with others.
They fear that the “team spirit” will get lost.
They are also concerned if they need to use private equipment (computer, private online connections, private
telephone connections,…).
Some raised the question how managers can know how individuals really perform if they are not in direct
contact with their employees.