Office talk: Have your say
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We want your views on what makes the perfect global office.
Who are your role models, how do you navigate through the maze of technology and how can you achieve a glowing annual staff review?
Have your say about Global Office. CNN's Richard Quest and Liz George will read the best e-mails on air.
Your Say -- January 20
Your Say -- January 27
Your Say -- February 3
Your Say -- February 16
Your Say -- March 1
Your Say -- March 22
Your Say -- March 29
I am not enthusiastic about the wireless office because of all the problems I have within a hard-wired office environment. If the technology gurus cannot keep me connected when I am hard wired, what confidence should I have with a vapor-net? Greg Csullog, Vienna, Austria
You asked if wireless offices will work: The answer is it depends! It depends on the software and whether business processes will support it. It depends if companies accept the absence of workers from the office. In Germany -- a very conservative work environment -- I cannot see that this will be widely accepted soon. The work processes would need to be adapted, so that people are not physically present. If there are companies and people that understand the power of better integration of work process and how to support the available tools in that process there might be a big swing. For sure wireless technology has enough benefits on the pure technical level to sustain its place in the computer and working world. Alexander Kemp, Germany
One of the biggest benefits of technology and the Internet is that I no longer have to rush frenetically around the planet. From the office in my apartment I can e-mail, conference, send and receive pictures, video, etc. I cannot help wondering if the owners of coffee-shop chains would be quite so happy if their cafes were full of keyboard pounding customers who bought just one cup of coffee each. David Gaskill, Hong Kong, China
In too many cases all these fancy, wireless and paperless office equipment have added little value in terms of real productivity and efficiency except from being highly fashionable marketing gadgets for people who need to show off! Nina, Beauvais, France
In my opinion response to the wireless office is a little mixed. I see the great potential, in the efficiency, but on the other hand, I do not like the idea of loosing the personal contact with your co-workers. All in all I think it offers an opportunity to spend more time between meetings more efficiently, but as an alternative to a traditional desk, I say no thanks. Claus, Copenhagen, Denmark
If the founder of Easy group had stuck with easyJet and expanded internationally, he would be a truly global brand by now and would have made millions. By staying focused, he would have had the synergies, which could have brought his cost down even more! I for one think that he is a true entrepreneur. Lionel Tan, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
I found Henri' Mintzberg's comments completely true; it goes back to the basic principles of human interaction. Delegate the median, while accepting the extremes; or do the most good for the most amount of people. Management is actually a job for everyone. Managers must be charismatic and know their employees and their clients. MBA's do not make a good manager; wisdom, insight, and humility do. Andrew Stenzel, Belgium
Perfect Global Office: If you are a natural person, and if your manager can make you creative at work with out any politics, then it is perfect. People often say, we should be lucky enough to work in a great office. Paul Bastin, Atlanta, Georgia
Most knowledge workers can work from virtually anywhere. It contributes to the bottom line. My publicly held company has hundreds of remote employees and we are thriving. Joe Longtin, Tustin, California
I am an inspector for Caterpillar engines, I have worked in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. In the past 15 years I have seen how offices operate in co-operation with technical staff in the field. The bottom line is that rarely do managers in the office have any understanding with how things work in the field. A classical example of the Dilbert Principal. Lyndon Berchy, The Netherlands
Home working calls for great discipline as one does not work in a dressing gown and slippers in the office. Relations with the family can be strained unless you plan days out of the house as children must learn a routine. But it is a great way of "knowing your kids". Danger looms if your spouse is also a home worker but even this situation can have its rewards. Dr Harold Dresner, Karmiel, Israel
