The place of the virtual workplaces in developing smart urban centres

Abstract

Purpose this study of the changing strategies cities with urban centres are adopting in order to adapt to the increasing influence of technology on the labour force looks at systems and structures been created to accomodate the virtual workplace in this cities. Urban centres are certainly a good place to begin this investigation and a look into how the virtual workplace can be embedded in plans and policies is timely. Methodology/methods This research adopts a qualitative research method to synthesize information genered from deskstop search for information that relate on a general level to theories and key terms in this paper. Furthermore, the framework design is a prelude to data collection and analysis which is in progress at this time and opens up the framework validation process. Aim The aim of the research is firstly to discuss the strategic changes in the design and deveopement of urban centres of cities at the current time with reference to the previouse status quo, and explain this changes based on developement theories (Network and System Theories Specifically). Findings Organizations today have little choice as regards the adoption of virtual workplaces, as one of the main goals of organization strategy is to remain competitive. Attracting the best talents and keeping ahead of competition in their industry. Cities therefore need to properly position themselves through planning and designs to make themselves attractive to these organizations. Hence recently, many cities have sought to develop smart urban centres which would incorporate systems, platforms and infrastructures around which the virtual workplace can be hinged. The the review of literature revealed that cities had began some while ago to adjust their policy and developement strategies to allow for necessary condintitions organizations need for the adoption of virtual workplaces. This in turn has provided a return of increased localization of organizations, highier standings in city livability rankings and increased attractiveness to skilled labour. Conclusions Organizations as we know it today is changing, so is the composition and the structure of this organizations. Cities where these organizations are locating themselves are not excluded from this changes. More highly skilled professionals are attracted to work in organizations located in a different place from where they live and it is becoming increasingly possible to take up such offers as organizations tend towards the virtual work place. This research has shown that this changes are already occouring, but there has been little effort to explain the role of cities in this change, and how cities themselves are changinging and developing to facilitate this phenomenon. It is therefore an area that should be further researched and based on the theories and principles discussed in this paper, a framework/model can be developed to explain this phenomenal change.