ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book was written out of frustration at Enterprise 2.0 and social business discussions online, and dismay at proclamations of 'smart working' as a new paradigm. Of course technological, demographic and economic developments are causing turmoil and opportunity in global and local business environments. An additional key source for analysis of first wave smart working is past participation in the UK Work Organisation Network. Drawing from a broad range of organisational design and theoretical perspectives, including social psychology, organisational learning, systems thinking, process perspectives like lean and quality, socio-technical systems theory and more, Smart Working: Creating the Next Wave explores issues around formal systems design and organisational capabilities needed to support smart working. These capabilities include the ability to identify key principles, which is interpreted and applied to unique operating contexts in the pursuit of viability, adaptation, innovation, performance and integration.
