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The document discusses the concept of the 'disappearing workplace,' highlighting the shift from traditional offices to flexible workspaces and remote work, which alters power dynamics rather than eliminating them. It examines how modern office designs, influenced by technology and corporate culture, blur the lines between work and personal life while maintaining subtle forms of control. Key takeaways include the persistence of corporate control in new forms and the illusion of freedom in contemporary work environments.

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lorybaciu0811
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4 views11 pages

Presentation (2) 1

The document discusses the concept of the 'disappearing workplace,' highlighting the shift from traditional offices to flexible workspaces and remote work, which alters power dynamics rather than eliminating them. It examines how modern office designs, influenced by technology and corporate culture, blur the lines between work and personal life while maintaining subtle forms of control. Key takeaways include the persistence of corporate control in new forms and the illusion of freedom in contemporary work environments.

Uploaded by

lorybaciu0811
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Prepared by Group 1 C

Group
The disappearing workplace

Project
Borysiuk, Artem
Kvarzell, Liam
10 March, 2025 Mardare, Lorena Gabriela
Myroshnychenko, Mykyta
Tapper, Noa
Zhang, Tao
Wei, Lingxiao
Introduction
We explore the concept of the "disappearing
workplace" in contemporary organizations and
how open layouts, flexible workspaces, and
remote practices reshape our understanding of
power and control. Drawing
. on key insights from
Dale and Burrell (2008) and Saval (2014), we
examine how interesting office designs emerge,
how they blur professional and private life, and
their impact on the "enterprising self." Finally,
we consider the broader implications of
understanding organizations today.
The end of the traditional work place
•The traditional workplace is disappearing, replaced by
flexible workspaces and remote work.

•This transformation reshapes power dynamics rather


than eliminating them

•Dale & Burrell (2008) - How workplaces shape behavior


Saval (2014) - The hidden control in flexible work
Key drivers of the
disappearing workplace

Technology (cloud-based
The shift from fixed offices to
collaboration, video
decentralized workspaces
conferencing)

Corporate culture (Emphasis COVID-19 (Accelerated remote


on well-being and flexibility work trends)
The rise of playful
workspaces
•In the early 2000s, Google and Facebook, among others,
introduced open-plan offices

•The goal is to foster creativity and teamwork

•Remove rigid barriers and create a more open and social


environment (traditional offices being hierarchical)

•Shift away from rigid office surveillance but still maintain


control in subtle ways

•Without cubicles or private offices, employees feel


pressured to appear busy, even when they are not directly
being watched
Power dynamics in the modern
workplace

Blurred work-life boundaries


(employees feel they must always
be available)
Digital monitoring (productivity
tracking even outside the office)
.

Open plan offices = more visibility


(self surveillance among
employees)
Google's flexible offices

Open spaces, lounge areas, remote work


tools, game rooms

Encourages engagement but still


reinforces corporate control

Digital tools ensure high productivity


even outside the office

A lot of perks (nap pods, free food),


Employees don't have to leave the office.
The enterprising self

Employees
should be
Work and
always
personal life
engaged,
merge together
self-
improving
and
flexible
Saval
Fear of not doing enough (2014)
(workers may voluntarily critique:
work late, fearing they will This
be seen as “not committed system
enough” if they log of early benefits
companie
s more
than
The new forms of corporate
control
•Control shifts from direct oversight to
self-discipline and digital tracking

•Employees police themselves instead of


being directly controlled.

•Change from strict rules to company


culture expectations (Google example)

•Salval (2014): “Remote work doesn‘t


remove corporate control. it makes it less
visible but more pervasive”.
Key takeaways
.

•The disappearance of the


traditional workplace

•Corporate control has


shifted, not disappeared

•The illusion of freedom


Thank
you

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