The digital workplace is not just remote work that can be “turned on” or “activated” once. Such places actively develop on a huge scale, according to 5 key elements of work: technology, productivity, collaboration, culture, and leadership. When transitioning from level 1 to level 5, each element gradually changes. Thus, the digital workplace changes the entire nature of such elements, which are considered interdependent. But at the same time, companies must work on each of them separately. This overview presents 5 main stages of digital workplace development, on which the plan for further action depends.

Level 1 Digital Workplace

Such a workplace represents the company’s physical office, in which the capabilities of specific digital tools are used to expand work processes. Employees can work remotely 1-2 times a week, as most of the working time should be spent in office conditions. It is the office that plays the leading role, and a set of digital tools is used as an addition to interact with the outside world.

The list of level 1 technologies includes:

• email;
• spreadsheets;
• presentations;
• video calls (rare).

Collaboration is considered to be in-person meetings and informal communication, as well as sending group emails.

Productivity is determined by the presence of employees at their workplace. Level 1 leaders manage work processes directly, they walk around the office to monitor how each employee handles the tasks assigned to them.

As for culture, in this case it is not aware, not defined. Various posters can be seen on the office walls, everything that is not regulated by law is allowed here.

Level 2 Digital Workplace

This level allows recreating the physical office in the modern digital world. As a result, most in-person meetings gradually transition to Zoom meetings.

Among the significant disadvantages of this level, many difficulties are noted:

• Difficult to create corporate culture.
• Difficult to remain a good manager.
• Difficult to complete assigned tasks.
• Difficult to participate in video calls throughout the day.

This is one of the most terrible levels, and therefore no one stays on it for long. Therefore, many prefer either to return to level 1 or to move forward as quickly as possible.

As for technology, at level 2 there is still a lot of email, but it is diluted with video calls and instant messages, which are used as an alternative to personal communication.

At this level, maximum attention is paid to synchronous communication. Productivity is characterized by chaos and fragmentation. After all, employee tasks are scattered across several applications, which complicates control over their completion.

Leaders fill their day with a huge number of standard messages like “How are things?” and constantly request information regarding the current state of affairs.

Level 2 culture presupposes the presence of good values, but is not based on reality.

Level 3 Digital Workplace

At this stage, it becomes clear that the digital workplace can be called a quite viable model.

The list of level 3 technologies includes synchronous interaction tools, such as Google Docs. Company departments implement a list of specialized tools for solving specific tasks in their work.

Collaboration at this level is maximally organized. All discussions are presented as separate threads and each participant can independently establish rules for using tools and response speed.

At this productivity level, the correct prioritization is of particular importance, and therefore managers are engaged in ranking tasks for each member of the formed team. As a result, everyone understands what and why they need to do next.

Level 3 leaders plan personal meetings with employees, at which it is possible to discuss not only work but also personal matters. More attention is paid to creating processes, systems, and project boards.

As for corporate culture, at this level it is already precisely clear what to strive for, but the goal has not yet been achieved. Leaders are well acquainted with all kinds of problems regarding inclusivity and sense of belonging, but do not yet understand how to solve these problems.

Level 4 Digital Workplace

At level 4, it is possible to feel all the advantages of digital technologies. The basis of global changes is a clear awareness of the value of time. People understand how their life changes for the better as soon as they learn to control time.

Organizations at this level apply all the advantages of the asynchronous nature of digital workspace in their work. Gradually, working from home transforms into the ability to work from anywhere else.

Technologies confidently go beyond the established framework of standard tools, and therefore an option for experiments is possible. After all, collaborative work tools oriented toward asynchronous work and a higher level will be taken as a basis.

At level 4 collaboration, all true interaction problems will be well and thoroughly considered. Here, the capabilities of asynchronous communication are applied by default, and all meetings are organized only in case of urgent necessity.

As for productivity, at this stage there is a transition from task to goal: now employees are not told exactly what they should do, they are set a specific goal and taught how to achieve it independently.

Leaders take on the role of mentors and coaches. They spend their time removing various obstacles and optimizing systems that have been used for a long time.

Culture at level 4 is learning-oriented. There is a process of complete rethinking of all approaches to start from the basics.

Level 5 Digital Workplace

The level 5 workplace has a completely different look. This is a rejection of previous core elements and an opportunity to look at work from a completely different angle.

Technology in this case demonstrates a unique combination of human and computer, and therefore technology is called the main assistant and partner in work. For this reason, an increasing number of organizations are implementing AI and automation capabilities, transferring large volumes of work to systems.

Collaboration at level 5 is maximally strict and serious, characterized by the presence of systematization and optimization, and all important information is always at hand. None of the participants are overloaded and will not receive unwanted notifications.

At level 5 productivity, it was possible to completely break any connection between time and work. Paid vacations and traditional work weeks with a set schedule are long gone. Each participant plans their work process in such a way as to complete the tasks set before them and achieve real goals.

Level 5 leaders are true experts in human technology who devote all their free time to studying information on how to optimize systems and how to establish effective employee work.

Culture at this level helps all participants show themselves at their best. As a result, there is no chronic stress from work. Life inside the company and beyond its borders is separated – these are two completely different worlds. A sense of a team with people who can be trusted is created, and not just a sense of a standard corporation.