Virtual Office Key Terms

Imagine how much more effective you can be by learning virtual office key terms

Virtual offices are those which exist online, but not necessarily in the physically located world. All of a businesses work, projects, objectives and employees occur and are situated in an online, or virtual, environment. Benefits of a virtual office include the ability for participants to work from wherever they are physically located and the possibility to take on work from clients situated all over the world. Communications are not limited to the online environment, as telecommunication may also come into play using the telephone for business operations. However, it is easier to navigate this industry by becoming aware of particular key terms and concepts integral to virtual offices.

Telecommuting

Telecommuting is a popular way for employees to work some or all of their hours from home. Skilled professionals' and managers' work patterns often result in part-time telecommuting arrangements where they work at home two to three days a week, with the remainder of their time spent in the traditional office. Employees in other occupational categories such as data entry agents, programmers, or telephone order agents may be telecommuting full-time, performing nearly all of their work at home.

Location independence

Location independence refers to the environment in which an individual would work as being independent. Virtual offices do not restrict the locations of workers to one identifiable area. Rather, they are permitted to move about freely while accomplishing their work.

Virtual assistants

Virtual assistants are individuals who are able to work, from a distant location, in the capacity of administrative support. Such individuals utilize technological advancements, such as the Internet, in order to accomplish administrative tasks from a remote location.

Virtual office

Virtual offices are also referred to as eWorldplaces and e-workplaces. Team members of virtual offices are not located in one specific area or office. They are scattered out and communicate online and through other telecommunication means, allowing them to gather and express ideas without having to physically meet. In many instances, individuals of virtual offices appear to others, such as their clientele, to be working from a single physical location.

Alternative work arrangement

An alternative work arrangement is a flexible work arrangement which exists between workers and their employers. Workers are permitted a part-time or compressed schedule at a remote site.

Mobile office

Mobile offices are defined as the workspace, tools and technologies telecommuters need to accomplish their jobs. Mobile offices are more specific and structured forms of virtual offices.

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