This story points up the human dimensions of change, and our capacity to treat yesterday's revolution as today's orthodoxy. The challenge for Teleworking, and all Futureworking initiatives, is to work with the grain of our behaviours, not against it.
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE
The year is 1779. In a large field of
barley two men are leaning on their scythes, watching the activity in the next
field. There, large gangs of men are measuring out great distances with
measuring chains. Others are clearing away the top surface with shovels and
picks. A gentleman with a top hat seems to be in charge, running energetically
between the groups and shouting orders. Eventually he comes within hailing
distance of the farm hands.
They enquire what is the purpose of all the
activity. " We are building a factory ", replied the gentleman,
smiling proudly. The two look at each other puzzled, " What is a factory ?
" one asks eventually. The builder replies animatedly " Its a an
enormous building, large as a church, no, a cathedral, with high brick walls
and a solid slate roof. " He smiled when he saw how impressed were his
interlocutors. " And what is it for, this factory ? ", asked the
taller of the two. " Well, it is for the production of cloth, lots of it
".
The farm labourers were clearly perplexed by
this response. " But cloth is made in the cottages , by the womenfolk.
" they countered. " Yes, but this new factory will produce much more
cloth, on machines powered by a water mill over by the river. " The
builder was into his stride now and waxed lyrical about how many machines and
workers would be employed in the factory, producing cloth 14 hours a day, every
day.
The yokels did not like the sound of this
vision. " Its not right " moaned the older of the two. " There's
always been fields here, since time began. People are meant to work in the
fields, or from home. Home is for family." " Who do you think is
going to come and work in your horrible factory " the taller one inquired.
The builder took on a more serious demeanour, and looking the two up and down,
finally said " You, my friends, you will come ".
---------
It is now 1997. Two men are leaning on a wall
watching the old factory being demolished. Not without some emotion, as both
had spent some years employed in its delapidated grandeur. Soon it would be
flattened and the site would revert to its ancient greenery.
A large saloon car pulled up noiselessly
beside the observers, and a distinguished gentleman got out. He was immediately
recognisable to them as the former owner of the factory site. He stood beside
them, without acknowledgement. Eventually he sighed and said " Sad isn't
it ".
The three then swapped reminiscences of the
old edifice, from both sides of the industrial divide. Finally one of the
former workers asked " What happens now then ? " The industrialist
perked up at this question and responded with gusto. He described how most of
the work would be out-sourced, and that to reduce overheads many of the workers
would be working from home, using computers and linked to a new Head Office by
modem.
" Its not right " moaned the older
of the two workmen. " There's always been a factory here. People aren't
meant to work at home. Home is for family. People want to go somewhere else to
work, not home. What kind of people will sign up for this new deal ?" he
challenged the businessman,, who took on a more serious demeanour, and looking
the two up and down, finally said " You, my friends, you will ".
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