Virtual Office
Motivation and Philosophy:
After years of observation, listening, learning and practice in the field of development aid there is the need for critical thinking no matter how silly it may look. All around the world there are people both young and old who would like to do something no matter what to contribute to a better world. They are willing to do this in their spare times and at the most convenient moments. They want to touch lives far away with their expertise and resources. At the same time the reality is that the cost of running development organizations and the style of organization and management has been crying for change. We wanted to create the most effective way to use interns / volunteers from all over the world to support our work. At the same time, we do not want to limit their creativity, working method or the time they spend working. We were looking for the most cost effective way or the 21st century non for profit organisational model to work with and we found it when we created the Virtual Office.
This has become possible due to the technological advancements in the past years. All you need is to commit a minimum of 2 hours a week and join one of our departments. Those who would like to be departmental heads and senior officers are required to commit a minimum of 8 hours a week. Online interns work according to the terms of agreement signed.
Vision:
We envisage our staff / interns / volunteers sitting in front of their own computers when and where they want to. Organizing their work, going to negotiations with donors or looking for volunteers for the organization, as individual’s, but all towards a common goal that is to achieve the objectives of Thirdway of HRD, because they are a part of our Virtual Office team. The virtual office team, who may never have met before and some who would never meet at all, help to create one of the best teams in the world. Why? The members of this team do not work under the pressure of control or time. They are working hard but under self control and regulation because of their own convictions to achieve the objectives of the organization. That makes us the best international unique team.
What is the Virtual Office?
In a real office every employee has a table, a computer, and works near each other and sees each other physically, and a small place where he/she can work. It is same at the Virtual Office too. The only thing that has changed is the proximity and space which means and it can be everywhere in the world.
We use the Skype and other modern communication facilities to keep in touch. In our community the motivation is to achieve our goals no matter the distance. Our colleagues work hard perhaps even harder than the employees at a real office with motivation and not because they have to do it under compulsion.
How does it work?
Everyone who works for Thirdway HRD have an access to the internal forums, office online, and documents. Our employees work individually and consult each other when necessary. All the employees follow our 'Communication Protocol' and this helps to have an overview and proper coordination of work.
What much does it cost?
To maintain a large office is really expensive especially if an organization is created to help others or non-profit: The rent, the heating and electricity, communication, cleaning and security service etc all goes to take a big chunk of the budget for the real projects. At Virtual Office one is working from his/her own home, it means the costs are absorbed as their contribution to the achieving the desired goals. There are possibilities of reimbursing employees and paying salaries in addition there are in some cases the need to establish real offices to enable work to be done. In circumstances like that we still ensure to operate at the minimum cost level for the same quality of work.
Interactions:
We thrive to keep in touch with each other and with our working model we envisage to organise meetings with and for our donors wherever they are online or physically. It is our hope that we could organise bi-annual meetings with colleagues around the world physically.
