Contact:cdent@burningchrome.com
Brown, J.S. & Duguid, P. (2000). Chapter 3: Home alone. In _The social
life of information_ (p. 63-89). Boston: Harvard University
Press.
Diagnosis of why efforts to migrate workers away from standard office
work situations have not proven as effective as has been predicted by
futurists and technologists. Sample cases of the efforts as well as the
predictions are described to illuminate the social networks in which
workers are engaged. These social networks shape work in intangible but
beneficial ways as well as provide problem solving support workers. The
cases include the removal of office spaces in exchange for a more
communal gathering arena in an advertising firm, the experiences of a
new employee when migrating from a position of isolation to a position
with co-workers in earshot, plus others which demonstrate the presence of
a social context. For alternative work situations to succeed continued
work with advancing and improving technology that reinforces access to
social networks must be done. -cjd
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