Sonata Notes: Surviving the “Great Shift Change”
The long-predicted skilled labor shortage in fields such as engineering, manufacturing, and construction is upon us and is expected to last for most of the 2020s. Given that most companies haven't prepared adequately for the departure of their experienced staff, how can we accelerate the recovery of labor pipelines?
Sonata Notes: Should You Outsource Field Service, or Train Your Own Technicians?
The shortage of skilled field service technicians is a major challenge for capital equipment and infrastructure companies. Is outsourcing a reasonable "quick and easy" solution for covering those gaps - or is it giving up a future revenue stream?
Sonata Notes: Hybrid Work: Best or Worst of Both Worlds?
While they differ on when and how often people should return to the office, most employers and employees agree that the future of work will be “hybrid”, with some people on-site and others at home, depending on the day. A Vergesense survey found 74% of organizations intend to adopt some kind of hybrid model long-term.
Sonata Notes: Is Remote Team Productivity Sustainable?
While multiple studies confirmed a 5-8% jump in productivity since the great shift to remote work, leaders are divided on whether this is a temporary anomaly or the dawn of a new era. There are a few asterisks to consider with the pandemic productivity figures:
Sonata Notes: Why Managers Struggle with Remote Teams
Multiple studies have found remote workers are 5% to 13% more productive than on-site workers, but you might not know it from talking to their managers.
Sonata Notes: Why Do Managers Distrust Remote Workers?
While studies during the pandemic have shown virtual teams are highly productive, many managers can’t shake the suspicion that remote employees are doing laundry or going out for lattes when they’re supposed to be working.
Sonata Notes: Beyond “Virtual Teams” – Promoting Remote Collaboration at Scale
A recent study found that, while virtual teams are 5-8% more productive, remote workers spend 25% less time communicating with peers outside their immediate group. This has some leaders worried that remote work will undermine the kind of cross-functional collaboration that drives innovation.
Sonata Notes: Can Remote Teams Have Strong Cultures?
Culture is an intangible yet invaluable asset for any organization. When people feel a sense of shared identity with their coworkers and commitment to the organization’s mission, it improves day-to-day performance and long-term talent retention. But what happens to an organization’s culture when people work remotely, instead of side-by-side?
Sonata Notes: Is Remote Work Good for Diversity?
Ask any CEO or HR director today about their priorities, and they’re bound to list remote work and diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) among the top five. And while these might seem like unrelated issues, multiple studies have found a surprising correlation between DE&I and virtual work.
Sonata Notes: Is Remote Work Hurting Gen Z?
Clearly, leaders are worried about their new hires and the impact virtual work will have one their professional development. But how do actual members of Gen Z feel about this?
