By Andrew P. McCoy and Fred Sargent
Published On February 15, 2022
In the last two years, the most basic concepts about the design and operation of business organizations have undergone more rethinking than at any other time in the last 300 years.
In 1722, John Lombe and his brothers completed the construction of the first industrial factory, a five-story textile mill in Derby, England, introducing the modern concept of bringing hundreds of workers together, out of their small cottages, and under one large roof to manufacture goods.
Three hundred years later, in the face of the current pandemic, business leaders all over the world have been forced to reverse course, sending millions of people back to their homes to work remotely. This strategic retreat has created “hybrid” organizations where some staff remain in their company’s traditional facilities, while others have settled into work-from-home employment.
Meanwhile, despite pandemic conditions, staffing shortages and supply-chain issues, companies still need to hire managers, staff and production workers. Good companies want to do their best to “onboard” them.
Onboarding newcomers normally goes well beyond the traditional new-hire orientation.