GLOSSARY

Agile methodologies
in general, an “iterative” (meaning that the work is broken into small, measurable milestones) approach to project management and workflow that originated in the software development realm.
asynchronous
describing communication (such as via email or text) that doesn't take place in real time (as would a telephone call or video conference).
asynchronous interview
an interview in which a candidate video-records answers to questions. (Also known as one-way interview or pre-recorded interview.)
Baby Boomer
the generation born between 1945 and 1964.
back channel
a real-time online conversation (usually via chat technology) held simultaneously with another activity (such as a video conference or event) so as to augment understanding, such as for foreign-language comprehension.
colocated
working at the same site.
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC—for Universal Time Coordinated)
the primary standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. Previously known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
coworking space
a facility that offers work stations or rooms for rent.
digital nomads
those who use the internet and portable technology (cellphones, laptops, cloud-based applications) in order to maintain a nomadic lifestyle. For example, Piero Toffanin works as an IT business consultant from the camper he shares with his wife, Danielle—wherever they happen to be. And, for three months every year, trainer, speaker, and consultant Andy Willis leaves his coastal town in New South Wales, Australia, to both work in and hike the French Alps.
ELMO
an acronym for “Enough—Let's Move On”; used in meetings to keep the agenda on track.
freelancers
individuals who engage in supplemental, temporary, or project- or contract-based work.
fully distributed
when all team members work remotely. (Compare with partly distributed.)
Generation X (Gen X)
the generation born between 1965 and 1984.
Generation Y
see millennial.
Generation Z
the generation born after 2004.
hours-oriented work
work where the primary expectation concerns putting in hours, especially during a set period—as opposed to producing distinct results. (Compare with results-oriented work.)
hybrid [workspace] model
regularly using more than one workspace, often to best accommodate the task and/or the personnel involved.
ICT
Information and Communications Technologies. (See also T/ICTM.)
instant messaging (IM)
a text message session between two participants, usually between computers (rather than texts, which are usually sent by phone). An IM session remains connected until ended by one of the parties.
intranet
a private network accessible to only those granted authorization.
iterative
describes the Agile project-management approach, indicating that the work is broken into small, measurable milestones.
Kanban (“kawn-bawn”)
a method for visualizing workflow so as to balance demand against capacity. (Originated by Japanese lean production, adapted by software developers.)
millennial (or Gen Y)
the generation born between 1985 and 2004.
MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)
a text message sent via a cellular phone service, often limited to 160 characters. Unlike SMS, MMS can include images, video, or audio.
non-teleworkers
those who do not telecommute at all in their role (according to the 2016 PGi Global Telework Survey1).
OKR (Objectives and Key Results)
a document that defines company and team objectives and measurable key results to provide “a critical thinking framework and ongoing discipline that seeks to ensure employees work together, focusing their efforts to make measurable contributions.”2
office optional
a term indicating that an employer equally welcomes both remote and on-site employees.
one-way interview
an interview for which a candidate video-records answers to questions. (Also known as asynchronous interview or pre-recorded interview.)
online work(ing) (web)site
a website that helps match remote workers with jobs.
parking lot
the concept of putting off till the end of a meeting non-agenda issues that come up during the meeting. Other terms for this include Issue Bin, Coffee Pot, Water Cooler, Limbo, Chestnuts, Popcorn, and Refrigerator.3
partly distributed
when some members of a team work on-site and others work off-site. (Compare with fully distributed.)
portable technology
technology that enables productivity outside a fixed space.
pre-recorded interview
an interview in which a candidate video-records answers to questions. (Also known as asynchronous interview or one-way interview.)
remote-first
strictly speaking, an approach of organizing workflow such that a remote worker can contribute as much as those on-site do. In practice it can also be considered a default contingency plan to allow for seamless productivity when one or more employees on occasion must work off-site due to inclement weather, traffic, illness—even citywide disruption.
remote-friendly
a company open to hiring remote workers.
remote-only
an organizational configuration and mind set wherein employees only work remotely. (See the “Remote-Only Manifesto” [ p. 158 ] in the Part III EXTRAS.)
remote teams
groups of people who work together on a project.
results-oriented work
work where the primary expectation concerns producing results—as opposed to simply putting in hours, especially specific hours spent in a distinct location. (Compare with hours-oriented work.)
Retrospective (or sprint review)
regular, facilitated session for sharing progress, raising issues, and discussing solutions, often held every one to two weeks. Different Retrospective approaches are used to suit different setups and contexts. (For more, see the Retrospectives portion [ p. 316 ] of “Technology & Tools,” as well as the “Retrospective Plans” wiki at http://retrospectivewiki.org/index.php?title=Retrospective_Plans.)
Scrum
a subset of the Agile project methodology. Described by some as being the opposite of the waterfall workflow approach, Agile is an “iterative” approach, meaning that work is broken into small, measurable milestones. With Scrum, these milestones (sometimes called “sprints”) are usually one- to two-week segments that end in a distinct deliverable—even if that deliverable isn't a completed project. At the end of each sprint the team meets (usually in a Retro-spective) to discuss where they stand and how best to proceed.
Silent Generation
the generation born between 1925 and 1944.
SMS (Short Message Service); also MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)
a text message sent via a cellular phone service, often limited to 160 characters.
solopreneur
a small business owner with no employees.
sprint review
see both Retrospective and Scrum.
stand-up
a short status update, often done daily, where all share (1) what they did the day before, (2) what they're doing that day, and (3) anything they're struggling with. (The term “stand-up” originates from the on-site realm; the status update was meant to be so brief there would be no reason to sit down.)
super-commuter
someone who commutes for ninety minutes or longer.
T/ICTM: Telework/ICT-mobile work
the use of Information and Communications Technologies (such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers) for the purposes of working outside an employer's premises.4
team agreement
a mutually crafted document that details how a remote team has chosen to work together, especially regarding tools, procedures, practices, and etiquette.
UTC (Universal Time Coordinated—or Coordinated Universal Time)
the primary standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. Previously known as GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).
video conferencing
an internet-based means by which to enable real-time, video communication between two or more locations, often without including such features as file sharing, screen sharing, etc. (Compare with web conferencing.)
virtual office
software that enables access to a digital “office” complete with floor plan and avatars representing colleagues. You can move yourself from room to room, but you can only hear and speak to those who are in the same room with you—just like at an office.
virtual private network (VPN)
a network that enables a secure connection to another network over the internet.
voice conferencing
real-time, audio-only communication between two or more locations. (Compare with video conferencing and web conferencing.)
web conferencing
an internet-based means by which to enable real-time, audio/video communication between two or more locations, often used to conduct meetings, training, or presentations; often includes desktop sharing, application sharing, and/or file sharing. (Compare with video conferencing.)
webcast
a broadcasting of material via the internet. Can be live or recorded, and is usually noninteractive. (Compare with webinar.)
webinar
a usually interactive broadcasting of material via the internet, often for small groups for instructive or educational purposes. (Compare with webcast.)
wiki
a collaborative website, usually a repository of information, that can be edited by anyone. The term derives from the Hawaiian word for “quick.” To quote the founder of the first wiki, Ward Cunningham: “The idea of a wiki may seem odd at first, but dive in, explore its links, and it will soon seem familiar. Wiki is a composition system; it's a discussion medium; it's a repository; it's a mail system; it's a tool for collaboration. We don't know quite what it is, but we do know it's a fun way to communicate asynchronously across the network.”5
work(ing) out loud
a means of continually demonstrating one's dedication to the team effort, usually using remote tools to advertise what one is working on and how one can be reached.
working together online
using remote tools to simulate online the experience of working together on-site. (See also virtual office.)

NOTES

  1. 1   “2016 Global Telework Survey,” 27 July 2016, https://www.pgi.com/blog/2016/06/2016-global-telework-survey.
  2. 2   Paul R. Niven and Ben Lamorte, Objectives and Key Results: Driving Focus, Alignment, and Engagement with OKRs (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2016), 6.
  3. 3   Terrence Metz, “How to Manage Your Meeting Parking Lot and Assign Action Items,” MG Rush, FAST Facilitation Leadership Monthly, https://mgrush.com/blog/2011/08/04/meeting-parking-lot.
  4. 4   Eurofound and the International Labour Office (2017), Working Anytime, Anywhere: The Effects on the World of Work, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, and the International Labour Office, Geneva.
  5. 5   Ward Cunningham, “Front Page,” Content Creation Wiki, 23 December 2014, http://wiki.c2.com/?FrontPage.
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