Anna Uhlin

This topical book explores changes in how work and workplaces are organised, specifically what happens with community building when colleagues are not meeting in person daily. The authors propose to consider this issue by focusing on communing, that is on how common ground is created and maintained, and by considering technology as an actor active in the meeting alongside the participants. At its core, the book explores whether virtual meetings can enable the creation of common ground. By focusing on practices of coordination, collaboration and coorientation, the book demonstrates the importance of common memories, common matters of concern and common experiences in producing common ground. It does not assume that virtual meetings are deficient compared to co-located meetings, but rather considers meeting virtually to be an interesting phenomenon to study on its own terms. Chapters use empirical evidence to investigate virtual meetings and how they differ from in-person events. How Virtual Meetings Matter for Community at Work is an essential read for academics and scholars of organisation theory, human resource management, working life studies, sociology, science and technology studies, and communication. Its focus on inclusive working practices will also prove beneficial for managers and HRM practitioners.

This timely book explores the ways in which the future of work and associated digital technologies are imagined in contemporary society. Drawing on a wealth of original research, the book features detailed case studies that link broad sociological concepts to everyday practice. Building on the view that ideas about the future matter, the authors examine four imaginaries, namely work as rational, work as human-machine collaboration, work as freedom and work as self-improvement. They discuss how these imaginaries of work and technology risk shaping unwanted futures, and outline different scenarios that reflect an ideal future working world. Creating the Future of Work is an indispensable resource for academics and students of business and management, organisation studies, employment relations, and the sociology of work and organisations. Researchers, policymakers and business professionals interested in creating a positive working environment and in deploying constructive technology will also find this book to be of great importance.