Work Operating Systems? No, We Need Work Ecosystems.
Machines are an inadequate metaphor for the future of work.
The term ‘business operating system’ (or ‘work operating system’) is getting used quite a lot these days. Most recently Monday.com, who I would consider a work management solution, declared that, no, it was, in fact, a work operating system, with their head of enterprise marketing, Oren Ezra, defining it in this way:
A work operating system (Work OS) is a cloud-based software platform where teams build custom workflow apps. It allows teams to plan, run, and track processes, projects, and everyday work.
A Work OS is geared for organizations of all sizes and across all functions of the organization. It provides the flexibility to build and adapt to any workflow, project or process.
A Work OS becomes a digital workspace within an organization: its building blocks can be assembled into apps that manage any kind of work. It collects information from external tools, helps teams communicate about items within the context of the work happening, and places all workflows in one place. This creates a centralized home for all work.
As definitions go this is not terrible but needs to be parsed. Let me rephrase.
A work operating system is a…
