Top 10 Challenges CIOs Face With Work From Home (WFH)
Survey results for top 10 challenges WFH workers face
In a recent survey of over one hundred plus companies, Janco has identified the top 10 challenges faced by CIO companies as WFH becomes more of the norm. These challenges and others have to be considered given the operational environment of the enterprise
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Interactions
When WFH is in place at an enterprise, one of the major challenges is the interaction between staff and management, suppliers and customers, and other individuals key to the enterprise’s mission. For example, since staff and management are not at the same location, the process of a “quick” question and or idea is not as easily facilitated. Processes need to be put in place which will foster the ideas of communication without the inefficiencies of interruptions.
Boundaries – Home vs Work
Few individuals have had the experience of working at home. Challenges arise with the worker and other individuals in the house. What is a person to do when a child or pet invades the workspace of the worker during a critical phone call or electronic meeting? The at-home work environment needs to set up in such a way the worker is viewed as not at home but in the office. That is a challenge, to say the least.
Socialization - Team building
In the in-office environment staff and management interact constantly during the workday. Breaks, lunches, and after-hours get-togethers all are part of the team-building process. These avenues are not available for WFH workers.
Security and Compliance
WFH exposes digital assets both at the WFH location and BYOD devices. Digital assets and printed documents at the WFH location need to be protected for inadvertent exposure. Also, mandated compliance requirements for security and records management policies can be difficult to monitor.
Communication
WFH locations connectivity with the internet is location and equipment dependant. Not every WFH location may have the necessary “broadband” service that is needed to support the WFH worker. Also, technical support may need to be dispatched to support the WFH worker as the workers may not have the necessary expertise to resolve issues as they occur.
Isolation
When people are in the WFH environment they become isolated from the rest of the company in addition to other people. This causes stress and can lead to an environment in with they do not function in the same way as when they are in the office.
Infrastructure
Stresses are placed on the enterprise’s overall operational performance. Everything from IT infrastructure to following up with customers and sales and distribution may not be adapted to the WFH environment.
Visibility
Is WFH working, who are the top performers, and who is not meeting the enterprise’s performance and operational objectives? These are questions that need to be answered.
Time Zones
WFH employees may choose to operate from a location other than one that is in the same time zone. The hours of operation should be well understood, and calendars should be synchronized to the office hour time zone.
Meetings
Electronic meetings for WFH workers present unique requirements from dress code to background of participants.
