Pandemic of under-preparedness. New report provides a critical roadmap for the urgent transition to remote work

2020-03-20

• First expert report into Australian preparedness for remote work released today
• High level of underpreparedness even in high tech organisations
• Essential guide for transitioning to a remote workforce quickly and effectively

The first authoritative report into the level of preparedness of Australian organisations for remote working in response to COVID-19 was released today.

Australian digital consultants James Dellow and Matt Moore have spent the last 10 days completing an accelerated research project that sets the benchmark for urgent action to adapt to the radically new operating environment.

Pandemic of Under-Preparednes: A Status Report on Digital Workplaces and the Organisational Response to COVID-19 in Australia offers unique insights into the ways in which Australian organisations are handling the crisis and offers best practice recommendations for fast and effective changes.

The report is based on confidential interviews with technology and transformation professionals at Australian organisations in the commercial, government, education, and not-for-profit sectors.

"This week the COVID-19 crisis became real for Australians. Many Australian organisations have already sent workers home for whom geographic co-location is not mission critical." says Matt Moore.

"Organisations fall into two camps. Firstly, leaders whose digital workplace programs have positioned them well to support remote working; and then you have everyone else. The latter group have no choice but to make it work, with leaders making it up as they go along. They are back-solving the logistics to keep their workers productive. Hence the run on Officeworks and JB Hi-Fi", he added.

"Over the past week, we have seen organisations hard pressed to get their technology to work, dealing with employee panic, and communicating messages in ways that will comfort rather than alarm," says James Dellow.

"Importantly, the data show that the expected first-mover advantage of digital leaders, companies that already work in the cloud, may be more limited than assumed. Ready or not, by next week everyone will be living and working in radically changed circumstances."

Based on field research and interviews carried out over the last 10 days, Pandemic of Under-Preparednes: A Status Report on Digital Workplaces and the Organisational Response to COVID-19 in Australia offers insights into the ways in which Australian organisations are handling the crisis.

The report includes one-page guides for individual workers, team managers, organisational leaders, technologists, and vendors. It then discusses the challenges and opportunities that these groups might face over the short, medium and long term.

Join the webinar: Monday 23rd March 2020 (AEST) - register on Meetup.

Watch a recording of the webinar.

For more information:

• James Dellow: james.dellow@chieftech.com.au - +61 414 233 711
• Matt Moore: matt@innotecture.com.au - +61 423 784 504