This article is based on the Allwork.Space Future of Work Podcast episode “Why Remote Work Requires Better Systems, Not More Meetings with Darren Murph.” Click here to watch or listen to the full episode.
Remote work has moved well beyond the question of where employees sit. The challenge now is whether companies have the systems, processes, and operational discipline needed to support teams that may never share the same office.
That was the focus of a recent episode of the Future of Work® Podcast, where we spoke with Darren Murph, a distributed work expert, founder of Page 52 Consulting, and former workplace strategy leader at GitLab. Murph helped build the operating model behind GitLab’s fully distributed workforce and has become known for his work on remote organizational design.
The conversation explored why successful distributed companies require intentional systems, strong knowledge management, and new approaches to collaboration as AI becomes more integrated into everyday work.
Remote Work Requires an “Invisible Skyscraper”
When many companies moved to remote work during the pandemic, some assumed the transition would be as simple as sending employees home with laptops. Murph argues that effective distributed work requires much more planning.
He compares remote organizations to an “invisible skyscraper.” While employees may work from different homes, coworking spaces, and cities, the company still needs the equivalent of workplace infrastructure: clear processes, communication systems, documentation, and shared expectations.
Just as a physical office requires careful design before employees can work effectively inside it, distributed teams need intentional structures built around how people communicate and complete work.
Knowledge Management Becomes Critical in the AI Era
One of the biggest challenges facing companies adopting AI is whether they have organized information for these tools to use effectively.
Murph said distributed companies have historically been forced to prioritize documentation because employees cannot rely on informal office conversations to share information. That practice is becoming increasingly valuable as companies introduce AI tools.
Without centralized knowledge, AI systems may struggle to provide accurate answers because important information is scattered across individual devices, conversations, or disconnected platforms.
Organizations that invest in knowledge management can create a stronger foundation for AI adoption by giving these systems reliable information to work with.
Companies May Need New Roles Focused on Operations
Murph also highlighted how distributed and AI-enabled workplaces are changing the skills companies need from employees.
Rather than focusing only on cultural alignment during hiring, organizations are increasingly looking for operational fit: whether employees can work effectively within systems built around documentation, asynchronous communication, and clear processes.
This includes practices such as meeting guidelines, team agreements, written goals, and defined expectations for communication.
For managers, creating these structures does not always require company-wide changes. Murph suggested teams can start by creating their own agreements around communication, tools, response times, and workflows.
Coworking Can Support the Future of Distributed Work
While remote work gives employees more flexibility, Murph noted that not everyone wants to work from home. Some employees may prefer separating their living and working spaces, creating an opportunity for coworking spaces to support distributed teams.
He pointed to coworking stipends as one way companies can give employees more choice while maintaining a remote-first approach.
For distributed organizations, offering access to alternative workspaces can become part of a general effort to provide employees with the tools and flexibility needed to work effectively.
AI Could Expand Opportunities for Smaller Teams
The conversation also touched on how AI may enable smaller companies and solo entrepreneurs to accomplish work that previously required larger teams.
Murph said the combination of remote work and AI is lowering barriers for people who want to start businesses, allowing small teams to operate with fewer traditional resources.
Rather than requiring every company to scale into a large organization, he believes more businesses may operate with small teams built around specialized expertise, technology, and strong operational systems.
As companies traverse the next phase of workplace transformation, Murph’s central message is that flexibility alone is not enough. Organizations need the infrastructure behind flexibility — clear processes, accessible knowledge, and disciplined ways of working — to make distributed work sustainable.
