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May 2009

From Jim and Charlie

Has the future ever been more uncertain than it is right now? Perhaps it has—but we're currently living with more than our fair share of FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt), to say nothing of plain old anxiety.

As we complete this issue of the newsletter the world is gripped by fear of rapidly spreading swine flu that may well become a full-blown pandemic. We're still struggling to get the economy moving again, the Middle East seems farther away from peace than ever, and no one knows what this summer's hurricane season will be like. Not a happy time!

In the midst of all that, it almost seems too trivial to worry about the future of work. But we (all of us, together) have never had a better opportunity to transform our lives and our work. As some of the pundits and politicians are fond of saying, "Never let a crisis go to waste."

So this month we're focusing on three specific crisis-related ideas: the core concept of transformation, how to increase our understanding of what's happening, and on how all of that may transform the workplace. The Feature Article lays out a four-dimensional framework for describing the process of transformation. The Compass thought piece takes you back to some very basic principles about measuring, and learning from, the world around you, while the Notes from the Field column, from contributor Michael Dunlap, asks out loud a question few of us really want to think about: what's the role of furniture (of any kind) in the office of the future?

Enjoy.

Charlie and Jim

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Feature Article: Someone Hit The Reset Button

Fundamental transformation is happening right now in our economy and society. This month we begin a three-part series to look at the nature of this change in detail. The first installment this month is about the basic nature of transformation. It is irreversible, substantive in nature, changes our identity, and shifts our purpose to a higher level.

Compass: Back to Basics: Measurement Matters

April 23 was Earth Day. An intriguing column in that day's San Francisco Chronicle got us thinking once more about the critical importance of what and how we measure the things we're trying to manage—and transform.

Notes from the Field: Will The Office of the Future Need Furniture?

The "office of the future" cannot simply be an improved version from the past. It must be reinvented to meet the needs of how we actually work, not how the designers, engineers, and manufacturers would like us to work.

What's Happened/Happening?

A short note about where Jim and Charlie have been, are, and will be, holding forth in public conversations and other activities.

As usual, your comments and reactions to any of these articles are more than welcome. Please send your thoughts to us at any time.

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