1. Changing Communication Environment
1.1. Diversified Work Styles
Business organizations are significantly revising conventional work styles. These*changes resulted from the intensified competition that followed business globalization,*accelerated business speed, pursuit of labor productivity, and transitions in value*standards. Beyond that were societal demands to reduce environmental impact and*create a work-life balance. By adopting new work styles, business enterprises achieve*improved efficiency and productivity. At the same time, they will achieve a more*satisfied workforce, e.g., a free address system with no need for a fixed desk,*teleworking, childcare and nursing-care, satellite offices to alleviate the load of remote*commutation, or work-sharing to mutually share job opportunities.
As we all know, diversified work styles became possible thanks to the expansion of IT*technologies, such as high-speed network environments and the proliferation of*media-rich mobile devices. With this new environment, everyone can access*information anytime and anywhere, and they can do it quickly through high-speed*optical networks and wireless LAN (Wi-Fi). Convenience of use has also increased*with the appearance of mobile devices, such as netbook PCs, tablets, and smartphones,*which are easy to use and comparable in performance to conventional desktop PCs.*Cloud services have also been expanded.
Main advantages of work style diversification
- Reduced cost and time for commuting and business trips
- Reduced administrative and maintenance expenses for office space and*equipment
- Global business without worrying about time-zones
- Accelerated business, faster decision making and improved labor productivity
- Improved job-retention by the adoption of working arrangements adapted to*individual convenience
- Reduced carbon-dioxide (CO2) emission by cutting down on travel
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