According to a piece by Darren Dahl in Inc. Magazine: "Consulting firm Point B has 223 employees--and no phones, desks, computers, or cubicles."

While there is often much to be skeptical about when talking about a 21st century that doesn't believe in office space, Point B has $46 million in annual revenue. And 223 employees spread out in the Pacific region between Seattle, Denver, Phoenix, and Portland; Seattle being home to 187 of the batch. And only a 4% hiring rate.

Mike Benson, Senior VP of Kroenke Sports Enterprises, the owning company of Denver's Pepsi Center and five professional sports teams, was skeptical of Point B at first but was happy he gave them a chance: "They were always here because they lived right up the street."

Although not a client, Charles Ehin of Westminster College's Gore School of Business disagrees with this approach, saying "There are certain chemical reactions between individuals when we go face to face. That can't happen at a virtual organization."

But as a philosophy, Point B co-founder Tim Jenkins believes that: "Rather than building our lives around the business, we're building the business around our lives."

Where do you stand? Would it be possible for your company to stay profitable and on the edge of what's happening if it were not in a centralized location? Is telecommuting a viable means of employing a loyal staff?

Labels: Consulting, Philosophy, Telecommuting