The future of work will revolve around a diverse mix of environments and cultures that are capable of meeting the challenge of chaotic conditions, according to a recent BBC feature story.

Speaking to the BBC, Gartner researcher Tom Austin explains that future environments and culture will respond to a series of mega-trends that will manifest over the next decade.

In summary, some of these game-changing movements include:

• Deroutinisation – Austin claims people add more value when offering analytical or interactive roles rather than routine processes
• Swarms – a form of teamwork in which there is a flurry of collective activity from everyone who is available and can add value to a project
• Sketch-ups – Gartner predicts most non-routine processes will be informal and created as needed instead of following a strict pattern
• Simulation – the spreadsheet era is over with new ways of presenting data, including simulated environments, emerging
• More virtual meetings – future workplace will be increasingly virtual with many colleagues rarely working together in the same building

As television watchers across the globe discover new ways to skip advertisements, marketers are becoming aware of the ability of viral commercials to capture the attention of viewers.

Unfortunately the process of developing an advertisement that people want to watch is rarely an easy one.

To help de-mystify the process this five-minute Harvard Business Review video explains the why some viral ads work and why so many simply don’t.

There’s more to the humble beanbag than meets the eye. A Flying Solo article by Sam Leader explains how this enduring piece of furniture also serves as a metaphor for business strategy.

Leader firstly points out that despite their convenience and durability, beanbags need topping up from time to time, a process that can turn into a nightmare if the hard to collect ‘beans’ spill everywhere.

And here’s where the metaphor kicks in. It’s claimed filling a beanbag, like implementing a business strategy, is all about preparation.

By taking the time to think about what might go wrong and considering solutions before challenges occur you’ll find yourself in a much stronger position. And of course the story doesn’t end there.

Both beanbag owners and entrepreneurs are advised when to slow down, speed up and how to handle minor spills along the way in this creative little analogy.

The key to successful innovation is to embrace any imperfections in the early iterations of a product or service, according to a recent BusinessWeek post on cost-effective R&D strategy.

Author Larry Popelka explains that quickly pushing a product to market rather than aiming to immediately develop the perfect end-result allows consumers to be involved in the innovation process.

It’s claimed the provision of consumer feedback is a considerably more cost effective approach that extensive upfront market research and can deliver new ideas that innovators may not have considered.

Minimum viable product, or MVP, is the buzz phrase used to describe the R&D trend of embracing imperfect innovation.

Apple is said to be a proponent of the concept. Rather than putting its products through endless focus groups, the company instead focuses on analysing feedback on early prototypes.

Coffee chain Starbucks has also used MVP to quickly and frequently test new products at selected stores and in the process continually stay ahead of the competition.

The full feature article on MVP can be found here.

There's a lot of buzz surrounding the new social media application Pinterest, a virtual pin board that brings together visual snippets of its user's web based interests.

But there's more to Pinterest than a collage of bookmarked interests, with Mashable arguing the technology behind the site may alter web design as the world currently knows it.

The post explains that Pinterest places web content into sticky-note sized blocks that users can organise onto pin virtual boards that fill their screen, thereby creating a personalised mini-website.

In doing so experts claim Pinterest offers a window-shopping mode that may see web design move away from the reverse chronology ordering of information to a more visual customisable approach.

Twitter speedlinks from last week on @aimqld:

Managing a Management Team (via Elaine Ball @EballBall) http://bit.ly/wz6MMA

How to Evaluate Your Leadership Style (via @workawesome) http://bit.ly/yWDe2A

101 Simple Truths We Often Forget (via Mark and Angel Hack Life) http://bit.ly/xze3yv

Passion: The Fuel of Persistence (via John Maxwell) http://bit.ly/yUn22H

Why You Need to Slow Down to Succeed (via SmartBlog on Leadership) http://bit.ly/A8OJaR

Passion or Work Ethic? Which Comes First? (via SteveFarber.com) http://bit.ly/yHRz6Z

Road to Self-Discovery: Exit Interviews (via HC Online) http://bit.ly/wucbv3

Grow: Taking Your Purpose to the Next Level (via Leading Blog) http://bit.ly/AwQKQC

Business Communication Tips (via Flying Solo) http://bit.ly/A0h8PT

Make a Great First Impression: 9 New Rules (via Inc.) http://bit.ly/zCI6CP

The Truth About Leadership (via @LollyDaskal's Lead From Within) http://bit.ly/yx9Fu2

The Top 30 Most Common (and Critical) Interview Problems (via TLNT) http://bit.ly/zfdzRf

The Importance of Being Innovative (via SMH) http://bit.ly/zBAeok

Customer Service: Does Our Experience Dull Our Empathy? (via @katenasser) http://bit.ly/ylpiYf

7 Tips for Effective Body Language on Stage (via Forbes) http://onforb.es/zdvcgl

The Secret to Self-Discipline (via CBS MoneyWatch) http://bit.ly/woFC8p
 
Unleadership: A Crisis of Identity (via @mikemyatt) http://bit.ly/zONBpo
 
25 Ways to Make LinkedIn Work for You (via BusinessWeek) http://buswk.co/w0hdcu
 
Listening Skills are Critical to Online Success (via management-issues) http://bit.ly/Azf2Ae
 
10 Tips to be Your Best (via Jon Gordon @JonGordon11) http://bit.ly/zXc7uk
 
5 Considerations for a Mobile Device Policy (via HR Bartender) http://bit.ly/xJ4rbL   

Transcendent Leadership: How to Lead Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime (via Change This) http://bit.ly/zHjclW

How to Create the Story Behind Your Organization's Purpose (via @TanveerNaseer) http://bit.ly/x1xqF3

Fearless Questioning (via @mjasmus) http://bit.ly/z4r8Rb

You Can't Run from Your Shadow (via Frank Sonnenberg Online) http://bit.ly/yiTpmb

The Power of Slow Thinking (via Brass Tack Thinking) http://bit.ly/yivmNU

Embrace the Power of Silence (via @fierce_inc) http://bit.ly/zPrASb

Forget PowerPoint, infographics are the future of business presentations, Fast Company reports.

Quite simply, infographics are graphic representations of information or knowledge that offer the ability to communicate often-complex data easily and clearly. You'll find a good example here.

A train route map is a consumer-focused example, yet trend watchers are suggesting infographics have much to offer professionals due to the ability of pictures to encourage critical thought.

In the article, inspiring infographic developer Francesco Franchi explains how these graphic representations work and why they are different from the one-dimensional nature of PowerPoint.

Leadership doesn't necessarily have to be something that is confined to the workplace. In this TED Talk Drew Dudley explains the concept of 'everyday leadership' and how it can improve the lives of others.