The Orange Future Enterprise coalition has created four potential scenarios of what the world of work could look like in ten years. It is unlikely that we are moving to just one of the four scenarios we depict below.  The more likely one is a scenario that combines all four - which elements will feature strongly? Will differences be industry or culture related?  What challenges would these scenarios represent for organisations?

Disciples of the cloud:
Living and working in this world would be a similar experience to life at many large companies today, with most employees commuting to work in large centralised office and strong divisions between work and personal time.  Information technology would be very present in the working environment, deployed both to enable new ways for individuals to collaborate as well as maximise efficiency.  Much of what employees do is visible and is measured by others in the organisation.  All work is tracked, but this brings the benefit of being looked after and provided with a range of facilities and amenities in the workplace.

Electronic cottages:
Living and working in this world would be very different from many people's current experiences.  A large number of employees either work at home or commute a short distance to a small hub office, where they meet with colleagues.  Working life is more integrated into everyday life; often working is just a matter of logging into the company network.  Working schedules are flexible.  For example, in the service and retail industry some workers log on only for a few hours at peak times.  Employees' work activities are still monitored but now there is a greater emphasis on one's lifestyle, and people are more connected to their local communities.

Replicants:
Living and working in this world would be much like being a freelance consultant today.  It is uncommon for people to be directly employed by companies.  It is not unusual to work for two or three companies simultaneously.  Working life would be much less predictable, routine and secure than it is now, with the flip side that people are free to choose where, when and how much they work.  There is a great deal of home working with perhaps spells of being 'embedded' in a clients/employer's offices.  Since work is unpredictable, people often work intensely for part of the year before taking periods of time off.  This is a world in which people must look after and find work for themselves, and in which companies take little responsibility for staff, although they must work hard to be attractive to them.

Mutual Worlds:
Living and working in this world are based in the local community and working life is dominated by a cooperative style of working rather than domination by big business.  Commuting is largely a thing of the past with people preferring to work in small local ventures, often connected to networks of similar ventures elsewhere.  Working life is not cooperative; indeed, not cooperating is bad for your reputation and for your business.