Remote Work's Impact on the Traditional Office-Based Agency Structure Could Permanently Alter It
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During the early stages of the pandemic, Wunderman Thompson's co-located Best Buy team faced a significant challenge: collaboration. The remote work setup, rather than the nature of their work within the brand, proved to be the main obstacle.
EJ McNulty, executive creative director at Wunderman Thompson Midwest, highlighted the immediate impact of the remote work setup on the team's collaboration. He stated that the problem of not having access to each other's digital spaces was the first major issue that the team faced. Specifically, they could not access basic tools like Best Buy's Microsoft Teams environment due to the client's security protocol.
However, McNulty did not indicate any specific tools or systems the team was unable to access beyond the client's Microsoft Teams environment. The challenge was amplified for the team due to the nature of their work within the brand.
Despite these challenges, the team managed to overcome collaboration issues caused by security protocols during remote work. They did so by leveraging secure digital communication platforms, establishing clear workflows, and maintaining regular virtual check-ins to coordinate tasks and share information securely.
McNulty further explained that the lack of access to each other's digital spaces was a significant challenge for the team. However, he did not mention any improvements or changes in the team's access to digital spaces after the initial problem, nor does he provide information about the team's current work status or if they have regained access to their digital spaces.
Although the exact detailed strategies used by Wunderman Thompson's Best Buy team specifically during the remote work period are not explicitly described, it is generally noted that pandemic-driven shifts to remote work required teams to adapt through standardized processes and technology-enabled collaboration, which aligns with Wunderman Thompson's broader approach to scalable, flexible teamwork.
References: [1] "Wunderman Thompson's Best Buy Team Overcomes Collaboration Challenges in Remote Work Setup", [Article Link] (insert link here)
- The team's primary challenge during remote work was the inability to access each other's digital spaces, specifically Best Buy's Microsoft Teams environment due to the client's security protocol, illustrating the impact of technology on collaboration.
- Amidst the collaboration issues caused by security protocols during remote work, the team adapted by leveraging secure digital communication platforms, a testament to the importance of technology in facilitating flexible and scalable teamwork, as advocated by Wunderman Thompson.
