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Creating Harder Working Spaces |
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Tuesday, 12 October 2010 00:00 |
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Workplaces big and small are increasingly challenged by the pressures to improve performance and cut costs, while employees are being asked to work harder than ever. Creating a space that contains the right balance of efficiency and effectiveness is critical to creating a harder working space. The workplace has never had to work as hard as it does today. It has to maximize use of real estate, attract and engage workers, communicate company brand and culture, and foster collaboration and innovation. When creating a new space it is crucial to assess your organizational culture, integrate strategies and establish new processes that coincide with the way people work and how they want to work. It is important to ensure that all workers are engaged, and regardless of generation, all knowledge workers require a space that can support four different kinds of work; focused, collaboration, learning and socializing.
A comprehensive strategy that aligns your business and technology strategies along with human capital and real estate is the key to creating harder working spaces. Since all workplaces are different, implementing workplace surveys can involve employees in the process of changing the work environment and defining measures for improvement. The final product is a fully developed strategy, a workplace that reflects your business, people and processes, and a space that makes working harder a lot easier.
For insights from designers, architects, and Steelcase researchers on how to plan these harder working spaces, view the June 2010 edition of the Steelcase Threesixty Magazine. |