Global Inc: an experiment across time and space

Recent and rapid developments in electronic commerce enabled global trading have raised many questions about future office work. In the light of these questions IFIP WG 8.4 has organised series of events which will culminate with the running of a globally distributed working conference in September 1997. The September 1997 conference will focus on “Global Inc”. Global Inc is a mythical organisation. Global Inc in its first incarnation will run for some 50 hours around the clock in three countries to simulate the 24 hour-a-day operations of a globally distributed organisation. It will serve three purposes. It will provide a forum through which researchers and developers can report and discuss IOF research outcomes. It will allow participants to live the experience of working in a globally distributed, 24 hour-a-day “organisation”. And it will provide a ”laboratory“ through which to conduct experiments in future office technologies, processes or work practices.