Office 365 Remote Working Guide

According to Microsoft, November 2011 is a month that Office 365 dedicated to the concept of remote working.

Not only is the Redmond company teaming up with a number of IT professionals in order to share their experiences related to working remotely, but it’s also providing guidance for those that have yet to do it, and looking for some insight.

The “Your Guide to Remote Working” eBook is available through the Office 365 site, with the software giant inviting users to “explore this virtual eBook to learn more about the benefits of remote working. You’ll find remote working quiz, tips & tricks, etiquette guide and more.”

Customers are free to read the entire book online, but they also have the option of downloading it, if they prefer to do so.

“Although you may be familiar with workplace etiquette, remote working protocol is a new horizon,” Microsoft notes.

The first chapter of the guide is designed to present a collection of tips referred to as Remote Working Etiquette.

Chapter 2 opens with a quiz set up to help users figure out whether remote working is the right approach for their business or not, with the next chapter dealing about the technologies and policies necessary for a remote-work program to be successful.

“After you have implemented a remote-work technology infrastructure, it is important to broadly communicate the usage policy. Setting clear guidelines and expectations helps establish trust between company management and staff, and it ensures effective use of the remote-work policy throughout the organization,” Microsoft reveals.

In the guide’s final chapter, Microsoft shares some findings of a Remote Work Survey performed in October 2011. Here are a few of them:

“Nearly everyone would prefer a regular remote working schedule. While only a few (9%) would work remotely every day, the average number of days people would prefer to work remotely is 3.1.

Fear of promotions/missing out on opportunities is the only perceived obstacle to remote work, though response time is considered a pet peeve.

Technology purchase is a personal selection, rather than company assigned, and aids people in work as if they were in the office even when they aren’t.”