What does the future look like for organizations?

New Age Organization:

We characterized the future organizations as "New Age Organizations" because we feel companies will have to take on a different mentality when viewing the structure of their workforce. Some of the key words associated with  New Age Organizations include:

In the article "On Shifting Ground: Organizations Today" by Johansen and Swigart, they describe New Age Organizations as fishnets. They use fishnet as a metaphor saying:

"The fishnet is flexible; it can form and re-form varied patterns of connection. The middle manager may at one time be at the apex, at another in the middle. The fishnet organization rearranges itself quickly while retaining its inherent strength."

Johansen and Swigart also describe the new organization structure as anytime/anyplace economy. They see technology as an impetus for this movement, individuals can now work anywhere - on planes, in hotels,in automobiles,on golf courses, and on beaches with the help from cellular phones, laptops, integrated software working groups, and faxes. Location becomes less of any issue for most people - allowing culture and geographical lines to be crossed anytime. They use the following image to describe the new meeting options for fishnet organizations.

Sounds good in theory, but have any of these theories been applied to existing companies?

Yes, the following companies have made this transition from hierarchical/bureacratic to horizontal/flexible structure - with success!:

Oticon

Florida Power & Light

Kodak

Chiat/Day

The following photos are examples of New Age Organizational work environments:

Please click on the photos to visit their originial websites.