The World Is Your Office - by Prithwiraj Choudhury (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In recent years, companies in a wide range of industries have adopted radically flexible work policies that allow employees and teams to work from anywhere (WFA), untethered to a physical office. The leaders at these companies understand that geographic flexibility is a competitive advantage: a way to attract and retain high-quality and diverse talent at a global scale. If other companies want to find and keep the very best talent, they must embrace WFA. In The World Is Your Office, Harvard Business School professor Prithwiraj Choudhury takes readers inside the companies at the forefront of this growing phenomenon-from startups to bigger, more traditional organizations-while offering leaders a playbook for implementing a variety of WFA policies they can tailor to their own needs. This includes: Using WFA as a means of hiring and retaining the best talent in your field; best practices for meeting the challenges of managing a WFA team or workforce, including ways to build community, improve communication, and share knowledge; understanding how AI and automation are extending WFA to manufacturing and other deskless settings; and case studies of companies that have implemented WFA to great effect. Filled with smart insights and in-depth examples, and inspired by a decade's worth of pioneering research, The World is Your Office will help leaders attract superior talent, boost innovation, and improve productivity and diversity"--

Book Synopsis

A research-based deep dive into a growing phenomenon--companies allowing employees to work from anywhere--and how those who adopt this model can boost talent, innovation, and productivity.

As the debate around remote versus in-office work rages on, leaders in a wide range of industries continue to implement radically flexible work practices, allowing most, if not all, of their employees to work from anywhere. Why? They understand that geographic flexibility offers a competitive advantage: the ability to attract and retain top talent globally.

In The World Is Your Office, Harvard Business School professor Prithwiraj Choudhury, who has been studying this phenomenon for over a decade, takes readers inside the trailblazing companies that are going all-in on work-from-anywhere (WFA) policies. From startups and nonprofits to government agencies and large corporations, Choudhury's research shows why and how these organizations--and their employees--are benefiting.

Drawing insights from this pioneering research, Choudhury also provides an extensive playbook for implementing successful WFA policies, offering leaders concrete strategies to:

• Use WFA as a means of hiring and retaining the best talent
• Effectively manage WFA teams, share knowledge, and combat isolation
• Leverage AI and automation to extend WFA into manufacturing and other deskless roles
• Design programs that attract talent to different regions

Filled with actionable insights and extensive case studies, The World Is Your Office empowers leaders to embrace the future of work.

Review Quotes

Advance Praise for The World Is Your Office:

"Many leaders have strong opinions about the advantages of remote work, but Raj Choudhury has something better: strong evidence. This book contains his pioneering research on how working from anywhere can be a competitive advantage. Ignore it at your own risk." -- Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author, Think Again and Hidden Potential; podcast host, Re: Thinking

"In this important and timely book, Choudhury lays out a blueprint for designing work in a more creative and humane way, delving into corporate practice to show what it takes in terms of culture, strategy, and leadership." -- Lynda Gratton, author, The Shift

"Choudhury is a leading voice on what the work-from-anywhere revolution means for cities and for nations. His expert insights come together in this timely, important, and well-researched book. It's a must-read for business leaders, policymakers, and anyone concerned with the future of work." -- Richard Florida, bestselling author, The Rise of the Creative Class

"A visionary perspective on how embracing flexibility unlocks new levels of innovation and productivity. Choudhury reveals a compelling path for companies and professionals to transcend geographic limitations and achieve more in life and work." -- Hayden Brown, President and CEO, Upwork

"Raj Choudhury is a renowned expert on remote work. In The World Is Your Office, he describes its various models and offers a road map for companies looking to work successfully in that environment." -- Sid Sijbrandij, cofounder and CEO, GitLab

"Choudhury's book is a timely and transformative source for leaders who want to create the flexible, inclusive, and productive workplaces of the future." -- Amir Salihefendic, founder and CEO, Doist

"Choudhury brilliantly captures the essence of why work from anywhere isn't just a trend--it's the cornerstone of a more equitable and innovative future." -- Annie Dean, Global Head, Team Anywhere, Atlassian

About the Author

Prithwiraj (Raj) Choudhury is a globally recognized expert on the future of work, serving on the faculties of both the Wharton School and Harvard Business School for over a decade. His research focuses on management practices and technologies that support work-from-anywhere and hybrid work arrangements and how companies, communities, and countries are competing for remote workers. In 2023 Forbes included him in its Future of Work 50 list, and in 2024 he was included in Time magazine's Charter 30 list of thought leaders shaping the future of work. His research has been cited by the BBC, CNBC, Freakonomics, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post, among others.