In 2023 OWA has pivoted to focus on bringing together the flex-work, design, operational and financial expertise of our first chapter with our capabilities as ethnographic researchers and innovation strategists, we re-launch as a research-driven workplace strategy agency to meet the hybrid moment. With this pivot, we have launched a separate consultancy focused on coworking.
Author: David Walker
CenterFuture.org
Through the establishment of an innovation center, the Center for the Future seeks to cultivate and enhance the technology, startup, and entrepreneur ecosystem in Northern Arizona.
xCommunity.org
The xCommunity is a community designed for individuals who are currently exploring the potential of artificial intelligence in their workflow.
Success Space
Integrating the Coworking Model into a Retail Cafe
CoworkingConsulting.com
Bringing the World of Coworking Development Together
Coworking Consulting Global Ecosystem
After 10 years of running OpenWork Agency, the first global coworking consultancy in the world, I am excited to announce the launch of the CoworkingConsulting.com and its Global Coworking Development Partnership Ecosystem. The partner ecosystem is a collective of coworking development related providers & solutions that can help entities all over the world deploy coworking businesses.
By bringing together the world’s top talent in coworking development, we offer a comprehensive, flexible, and expert approach to helping entities deploy coworking businesses. Whether you are an existing operator looking to optimize, expand, strategize, or audit, or a new entrant looking to enter the market, we have the expertise and solutions you need to succeed. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you build your coworking business.
Embracing the Philosophy of Experimentation
How AI is Transforming the Future of Business
As we move into an increasingly disruptive and innovative future business landscape, it’s more important than ever for companies to embrace a culture of experimentation and an open paradigm. After all, it’s only by constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible that we can truly thrive in this rapidly changing world.
But what does it mean to have an open paradigm?
Simply put, it means that we must be willing to challenge our preconceptions and assumptions, and to explore new and uncharted territories. It means that we must be open to new ideas, even when they may seem unconventional or unlikely to succeed. It means that we must be willing to take risks, even when there is no guarantee of success.
Of course, embracing this kind of mindset is easier said than done. After all, we are all creatures of habit, and it can be difficult to break out of our comfort zones. But by actively cultivating a culture of experimentation, we can create the conditions that allow us to take risks and explore new possibilities.
One key way to do this is by leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI). After all, AI is a powerful tool for expanding the boundaries of what’s possible, and can help us to explore new horizons and push the boundaries of what we thought was possible.
But it’s important to remember that embracing AI is not just about adopting new technology. It’s also about embracing the philosophy of experimentation that underlies it. After all, AI is not a magic bullet that can solve all of our problems. It’s a tool that must be used thoughtfully and deliberately, with a willingness to experiment and iterate as we learn more about what works and what doesn’t.
So, as we move into this disruptive and innovative future business landscape, let’s embrace an open paradigm and a culture of experimentation.
Let’s be bold, adventurous, and intellectual. Let’s ask questions and explore new possibilities. Let’s use the power of AI to push the boundaries of what’s possible, and create a brighter and more innovative future for us all.
Positioning Cities for Economic Success
Embracing the Future Ecosystem of the Workplace
An ecosystem is a complex network of living and nonliving things that interact and depend on each other. In the business world, an ecosystem refers to the network of companies, organizations, and individuals that interact and depend on each other to create value and innovation. This can include suppliers, customers, competitors, regulators, and other stakeholders. Each of these entities plays a specific role in the ecosystem and contributes to its overall function and success.
In the context of the future of work, the ecosystem of the workplace is becoming increasingly complex and dynamic. Companies are shifting towards more flexible and remote work arrangements, and this is changing the way that employees interact and collaborate. The traditional office floorplate is no longer the only option for employees, and they are now able to work from a variety of different locations, including coworking spaces, home offices, and even virtual environments.
This shift towards a more diverse and dynamic ecosystem of the workplace has major implications for companies and organizations. They must adapt their policies, processes, and technologies to support this new way of working. This requires a more flexible and collaborative approach to work, and a greater focus on employee autonomy and empowerment. Companies must also be prepared to compete for talent in a more decentralized and globalized workforce.
Cities can position themselves to thrive with their economic development by embracing future ecosystem models in several ways.
- Attracting and retaining talent: Cities can attract and retain top talent by providing a diverse range of work environments, including traditional office spaces, coworking spaces, and metaverse environments. This allows for a more flexible and autonomous way of working, which is becoming increasingly important for many employees.
- Support for startups and innovation: Cities can foster innovation and entrepreneurship by providing support for startups and small businesses. This can include incubator programs, networking events, and access to funding and resources.
- Investing in technology: Cities can position themselves as leaders in the future of work by investing in advanced technologies such as 5G networks, artificial intelligence, and virtual and augmented reality. This will enable new ways of working and collaborating, and will make the city more attractive to businesses and employees.
- Building a sustainable and resilient economy: Cities can also position themselves for long-term economic success by investing in sustainable and resilient economic development. This can include things like green infrastructure, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation.
- Developing a supportive policy framework: Cities can provide a supportive policy framework that encourages businesses to adopt new ways of working and collaborating. This can include things like tax incentives for companies that adopt remote work policies, and regulations that promote flexible work arrangements.
- Creating a sense of community and social capital: Lastly, Cities should strive to create a sense of community and social capital, this can be achieved through promoting social cohesion, engaging with the local community, and encouraging community involvement in the development of the city.
The Metaverse and the Future
How Virtual Reality is Disrupting Industries
We’re on the cusp of a revolution. A revolution in how we work, how we interact, and how we create value. Welcome to the metaverse.
The metaverse, a term first coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 novel Snow Crash, refers to a shared virtual world that can be accessed through various devices and technologies. While it’s been primarily used for entertainment and socialization in the past, the potential of the metaverse is now expanding beyond that to include business and workplace applications.
And make no mistake, this is no longer just a trend or a fad. The metaverse is here, and it’s here to stay. Organizations that are able to effectively leverage this technology will be well-positioned to compete in an increasingly digital world.
The metaverse is particularly relevant to companies as part of a hybrid workplace strategy. It can be used to complement in-person work and facilitate remote work, allowing teams to collaborate and communicate in immersive, engaging ways. From virtual team meetings and training sessions to company-wide events, the metaverse allows organizations to save time and resources while providing a more flexible and customizable way to work.
But it’s not just the office that’s being disrupted. The metaverse is also affecting industries such as education, healthcare, and retail. Imagine virtual tours of museums, remote surgeries, and virtual shopping experiences. The possibilities are endless.
The metaverse is not only changing how we work, but also how we live. It’s time to embrace this new reality and start thinking about how we can leverage the metaverse to create value for ourselves and for others. The future is here, and it’s time to start shaping it.