Proceedings of 8th European Assembly on telework (Telework2001)

106Siemens case: Knowledge sharing by videonegotiationPasi Rajander, Siemens Companies, FinlandPrefaceThe objective <strong>of</strong> the PC-Video project carried out by Siemens Osakeyhtiö in Finland was toconduct a feasibility study <strong>of</strong> how video negotiation and pc-video negotiation equipment could beused in the realization <strong>of</strong> telework and e-learning. In the following, I shall cover the findings <strong>of</strong> thisproject.Over 50% <strong>of</strong> the personnel <strong>of</strong> Siemens Osakeyhtiö have a telework contract <strong>of</strong> employment in force.Corporate business is divided into different business units and it is carried out in different places <strong>of</strong>business and subsidiaries in Finland and in the Baltic countries. The multinational organisationalstructure presents a challenge for the flow <strong>of</strong> information both within the organisation itself and inrelation to its customers.Despite the technical background, the focus is on assessing work structures and the cooperation <strong>of</strong>people, as well as surveying future possibilities.From Telework to e-WorkIn this context, telework is understood in its broadest sense. Consequently, a more appropriate termfor what by tradition has been called telework would be e-work. The changes that have taken placeregarding work and work structures have affected companies and their employees both in terms <strong>of</strong>the global market and globalisation and mobility on a personal level, which has allowed work tobecome less tied to a specific time and place.When we talk about e-work, we talk about how to utilize new technology. However, it is only oneaspect. Changing technology also changes the operational work, as well as the processes and themodes <strong>of</strong> action. When we think about e-work, words like networking, knowledge management,knowledge sharing, flexibility and mobility are the key words. One <strong>of</strong> the most important issues ishow to gain access to information regardless <strong>of</strong> time and place.