The Changing Office

Metra Martech has been involved for many years in measuring the effect of changing technology and social expectations on the workplace. Early studies for Rank Xerox in the 1970s examined the flow of paper in offices and provided early indication that the paperless office was still a long way off. More recently a variety of client questions have addressed the changing environment and have included factors such as:

• Changes in grades of papers caused by changes in printing methods
• Email and paperless facsimile
• Input of large amounts of archive data into electronic storage
• Home working
• Development of mobile telephone systems, including cordless systems within the office.
• ISO 9000 quality standards and the effect of the quality audit trail which this requires, on information flow.
• The changing status of the secretary - "in the past, secretaries tended to take more of a 'production line' role where they simply processed the work of others. They are also being increasingly asked not only to utilise their secretarial and computer skills but also to manage tasks and interpret data".
• Upwards delegation of tasks, e-technology stealing executives' time.
• Networking
• Customer Relations Management
• Best Practice
• Decision Processes.

There is a whole new question of data discipline and control of what goes out under the organisation's name. Flatter, leaner organisations cause new headaches in the question of liabilities.