All posts filed under: Organizational Change

The Emergence of the Gig Mindset

Published by Jane McConnell

People Movements Bring Change. The Gig Mindset Is No Exception.

First, people brought social to the workplace

This happened with social networks, which entered organizations timidly over a decade ago, were upsetting to many senior managers, but have now become widespread: approximately 60% of organizations have a single network worldwide, and another 25% have multiple networks.

Then people led and won the BYOD debate.

BYOD is another example. Bring Your Own Device was frowned on, even forbidden, in most companies. People did it anyway. Why? Because they had no choice. They needed mobile to do their jobs. Today well over half of organizations officially allow it for work purposes. And most of the others accept it. Companies with the most successful customer-facing workforce also have the highest rate of BYOD.

I wrote about this in 2016: Tracking the Trends in Bringing Our Own Devices to Work in the Harvard Business Review. Exceptions occur of course in highly regulated industries or on sites with highly classified data.

Now the gig mindset is the new battle ground.

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Navigating the Gig Mindset Paradox

Published by Jane McConnell

My research has identified 8 behaviors that characterize traditional and gig mindsets.   If you scan the list of traditional behaviors, the left column on the chart, you’ll see that most organizations strongly enforce this way of doing things. Processes, roles and management practices are aligned to the traditional way of working. Gig mindset behaviors, the right column, are rarely encouraged, and sometimes even sanctioned. The paradox we are facing is that organizations need both mindsets. (more…)

The Inclusive Organization and the Reachability Factor

Published by Jane McConnell

How can you build the right balance between global and local needs, desk-less and desk workers, and the center and the edges? If you can get it right,  it will change the DNA of your organization to one of genuine inclusiveness. You will fortify the sense of common purpose and belonging. Originally published on the Global Peter Drucker Forum Blog. (more…)

Simplifying and Socializing Processes

Published by Jane McConnell

I participated in a workshop some time ago with a big global company that is often held up as an example of how to go digital. Their HQ is in the US but our workshop took place in France. (NDA signed, sorry!) When we were having drinks at the hotel bar at the end of the day, I noticed several people taking photos of their bar bills. I asked why. The answer was that all they had to do to get reimbursed was to upload the photo using a special app. Nothing to fill out. No sign off to get from their managers. A friendly process, indeed! I asked: “And they trust you?” The answer: “Yes, but they can always check if they need to. So far they haven’t.” (more…)