Why Do We Still Have Business Trips?

Imagine, if you will, a future where people are more aware of their ecological impact on the planet and strive as a single collective to reduce our emissions-loving ways as much as possible without simultaneously destroying nations and economies.  People telecommute instead of go to the office, freeing up clogged transportation routes and making it easier for logistics companies to move products from place to place.  With no defined rush hour, public transportation companies operate on only two schedules (day hours, and night) to reduce confusion while also maintaining an acceptable operational profit.  When meetings need to be done, they’re done via the internet from the comfort of our home offices.  Negotiations are still done in person but, for the most part, almost all corporate communication is done via the internet and telephone.

Impossible?  Not at all.  We have the technology and the systems in place to do this now for 30% of all jobs, yet we insist on doing things the hard way.  While I can appreciate the need for people to escape their home lives by going to an office to do work, one question has remained in the back of my head for months: why do we continue to have business trips when a web or teleconference would do just as well?

Most of Us Hate Meetings

Most people will tell you that they hate attending the various meetings at work.  Decisions don’t get made. People aren’t prepared. No agenda was set, so there’s no plan of execution. A 30-minute meeting drags on for two or three hours. People easily get distracted and stray from the topic…. The list is seemingly endless.  So why would we want to travel from city to city to attend these colossal failures of management?

I’ve had this discussion with Kenji and a few other businessmen in Japan and they all have the same answer: it’s better to make decisions face-to-face.  Okay, I can understand 100% that by building a personal relationship with colleagues in different cities and countries we can have a stronger sense of team spirit, but is this really the only advantage?

I have at least two meetings every month via Skype and, while I admit that I probably don’t need to participate in half of them, they do allow me to stay in my home area rather than take an early-morning Shinkansen to Osaka or Tokyo.  In addition to saving time and money, I can be productive by working on reports or other assignments while the meeting is in progress without anyone knowing.

So, if this works for me, why can’t it work for others as well?

Eco-Friendly Policies Aren’t “Eco” at All

A number of companies in Japan have all pledged to be more environmentally conscious with everything they do but, as with companies everywhere else around the world, many can’t see the forest for the trees.  They mean well, but can’t make the tough decisions that will truly see a reduction in costs, time, and ecological footprints.  Kenji tells me that his company’s “Eco Plan” comes right from the top, not the other way around.  As such, business trips around the country will continue to take place.  Perhaps this is the problem.

One thing is for certain, though: we can’t keep using resources the way we are today.  Several large nations have developed a thirst for advancement, and we only have so many raw materials.

Does your company make use of webconferencing or teleconferencing to reduce costs?  Do you hate going to meetings?  Have I just been lucky enough to meet the few people who don’t like going to company meetings in other cities?  I’d love to hear your thoughts.