Communication / Collaboration / Interaction / Engagement

Matt Shampine, general manager of WeWork Korea

“Humanizing what work is, is the direction that we believe work is going globally. It’s something that you see every day and progressing that way. Tech itself will help it be easier to do more stuff together. It’s important to remember it’s people that are actually making it happen. Doing things in person — that is what’s going to lead to future collaborations. Physical spaces will be set up to accommodate humans’ need for wanting to learn and interact with others, and to have fun. People are really trying to get the most out of the space they work in. Virtual versus physical collaboration will balance out each other. If they sit at home from 9 to 5, they’re not going to feel that. They want to meet people, have friends. Something where there’s a better balance of professional and personal life. People will continue to seek human interaction and connections.”

Lee Seung-yeon, senior communication manager at Microsoft

“Virtual tools will make travel less necessary but meeting face to face will become more important. And when people do, the ergonomics will be an important part of how companies design their offices. Already forward-thinking global companies are purposefully designing their offices so that employees bump into each other often. The combination of a virtual and physical environment will enhance work productivity. Virtual tools will be used to facilitate physical collaboration. In the end, technology is for humans.”