Opinion A New Work Style By CHRISTINE CUNANAN-NOMURA	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
新しい仕事のやり方 新しい仕事のやり方 経済誌の編集員である筆者は 国籍も住んでいる国もさまざまな同僚たちと 日々連絡を取り合う国際的な職場で働いている。 2000年を期にあなたも 優秀な人材が国境にとらわれず活躍する社会に 参入してみては…？

At the end of last year, many people were filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. This was understandable considering the psychological impact of the millennium. In addition, there were so many predictions of major computer breakdown, chaos, war and even the end of the world on Jan. 1, 2000.

We are already several weeks into the year 2000. It is a good time for all of us to think about what the future holds.

The new world is definitely moving toward globalization. In the last 10 years, the word has been so overused by governments, companies and individuals that it has lost its meaning for some. Yet it is still the best word to describe what is going on.

The world will continue to evolve into one big marketplace for goods and services with very few boundaries. In such a competitive environment, nationality, group identity and even location will cease to be important compared with talent, track record and potential. Only those individuals or groups that can offer the best skills and value will succeed.

This is already happening. For example, my work as a busi ness journalist includes organizing and participating in various worldwide research projects for a multinational investment firm based in the United States.

The firm, which has its research headquarters in California, has contracts with dozens of journalists like myself all over the world. Although most of us have never met, we frequently work together on demanding projects that involve intense communication through e-mails, faxes, telephone calls and telephone conferences.

This system lets us be mobile, working from wherever we please. For example, armed with my laptop, my global cellular phone and a credit card, I have been able to work and attend meetings while waiting for my flight at Narita Airport, over lunch in the Swiss Alps, while driving through southern Spain, from a hotel room in Phnom Penh and even from a "ryokan" in Nagano.

My work is not confined to Japan. I often have to do projects that involve getting information from Australia, Hong Kong, Europe or the United States — all from my Tokyo home!

At our regional meetings I find that it is almost impossible to tell what nationality a colleague is. Almost everyone — myself included — was born in one country, educated in another, and now works in still another country.

My colleagues include a Swede from Phuket, a Singaporean from the Gold Coast, an Australian in Shanghai and an American in Jakarta. Most have lived in at least three or four countries, are technologically literate and culturally flexible, and can speak a minimum of three languages.

This set-up still sounds very pioneering today, but I believe that it will be the model for companies in the future.

On a positive note, such a borderless working environment will enable many ambitious young people to undertake work that was previously impossible due to geographical limitations. However, it will also mean a much more competitive and stressful environment, since the competition will include not only the best people in one area but from practically anywhere in the world.

Are you ready for the challenge?

Shukan ST: Feb. 4, 2000

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