Distributed Work Done Right

Recently, several articles, including a report on ABC News and a BusinessWeek cover story, have profiled one of the more innovative distributed work and management strategies I have been privy to. Best Buy, one of the leading consumer electronics stores in the United States, has implemented a strategy that they are calling ROWE, or “results-only work environment.”

The company has removed the emphasis on a 9 to 5 workday in the office and instead is focusing purely on their employees’ results. If the employee chooses to work from home, the supermarket or even the beach, it does not matter, as long as the work is accomplished and the results are satisfactory.

While not a standard telework practice, ROWE is an excellent example of how more companies should structure not only their distributed work plans, but also their management strategies. By focusing on what really matters – results – organizations can cut excess costs, improve employee morale and relieve much of the stress placed on management for status and reports.

Even though ROWE is more of a management style as opposed to a true telework strategy, Best Buy sets an excellent example for other companies looking to establish not only an effective distributed work strategy, but also a major shift in management throughout. It will require a significant turnaround in current corporate styles, but it looks like ROWE may be the future for large corporations. I applaud Best Buy for its leadership in the development of such an innovative and brave approach.

Rita Mace Walston, General Manager, The Telework Consortium