9
O P I N I O N
Changes in the A/E business
T his virus will change our business forever. Even when we return to “normal,” we are going to have a new “normal.” It seems apparent at this point that we are going to see some lasting changes in the A/E business by the time the immediate crisis of this pandemic eases. “Profound changes are coming to our industry. As is always the case when the external market makes huge shifts, those companies that can adapt will do well.”
what they are supposed to. As has always been the case, utilization alone doesn’t tell the whole story. It may not tell you anything beyond someone charged an hour they supposedly worked to a job number. This problem will be exacerbated by not seeing people and what they are doing every day. “The new remote work situation has worked out amazingly well. I’m hearing about a few issues related to connectivity, but that is it. I can see that some people will probably never be back at the office on a full-time basis again.”
Mark Zweig
Here are some of the ways I believe things will change: 1)We are working in ways we thought wouldn’t work and they are largely working. While most companies may have had a few people who worked from home, either on a temporary basis or longer- term, we now have almost everyone working remotely. And for most of the companies I have been in touch with, the new remote work situation has worked out amazingly well. I’m hearing about a few issues related to connectivity, but that is it. I can see that some people will probably never be back at the office on a full-time basis again. 2)We will have new ways of measuring productivity. I don’t think we really have a handle yet on how productive all of these remote workers really are. There will have to be new ways to figure out if people are really working and getting done
See MARK ZWEIG, page 10
THE ZWEIG LETTER MAY 4, 2020, ISSUE 1343
Made with FlippingBook Annual report