CONNECTING YOUR STRATEGY IN REAL TIME DESIGN8 Design Trends In Future Employee Centricity
Workplace Future | Employee Centric DesignPart of the Clever Architecture process in creating a successful workplace is to connect a company's vision and strategic plan to design outcomes. When we do that, we inherently find commonalities between organizations. One such commonality of late is the idea that the future workplace will be designed to attract and retain the most talented and high performing employees creating individual and group efficiency having a positive effect on the company bottom line. We believe partnering with prefabrication expert DIRTT is the perfect way to help our clients in a variety of workforce environments anticipate the future and increase company value. We have identified eight future workforce characteristics or trends that should be considered when making important space and design decisions. 1. Employee Focused Experience We know there is no one identical employee. People work differently. Even in the same job or task. For years companies built seas of open offices or workstations where one space was designed and all had to conform. Now we see a move towards desking where many employees are forced to sit side by side assuming they all do the same task the same way in a very public experience. These two models could not be further from the truth. We believe the focus should be on a variety of experiences in both how an individual works and how they come into contact with others through either group work or casual encounters. This means a predefined variety of work environments that are flexible enough to change as the company grows and employees change. 2. Blended Culture The blended workforce has created a new dynamic. This is not just about diversity in ethnic culture it is about diversity in types of employees that include full time working side by side with temporary and contract talent augmented by artificial intelligence and robotics. Combining this with an increase in virtual workers makes teaming more flexible and creative with greater company agility and profitability. This is a dynamic and changeable environment. 3. Technology + Robotics Integration Ever increasing automation will offer new opportunities for creativity and to increase productivity. In the end creating new tasks and job types and evolving others. Many experts actually believe automation will increase hiring levels, but change the work environment creating the opportunity to morph environments frequently. Spaces that can adapt to these technologies quickly will be a key to the future. 4. Talent Attraction The use of workforce environment as a talent acquisition device has become a new mainstay in design. Providing flexibility within the physical space in addition to remote opportunities changes how the overall environment is built and is changed over time. This includes various opportunities for working singularly and within groups. Technology allows the ability to be more mobile within the physical environment. On site amenities for creativity and play/work are also a driver to attract talent. Newer generations are looking for more than just salary. They are looking for an attractive environment that speaks to the soul of their personality. 5. Changing Jobs As artificial intelligence, robotics, and other technology increases, no one really knows where everything is going. But jobs will change and companies who are prepared will be ahead of the curve and well positioned for profitability. Again, flexibility and adaptability will be key. 6. Increased Humanity More and more companies, driven by the new workforce's desire to help others, are increasingly paying attention to their impact on humanity. Not just being generous and helpful in general, but acknowledging that human skills such as empathy, persuasion, personal service, strategic thinking, problem solving, caretaking, etc. are an intrinsic part of the company's potential. Spaces that reflect and celebrate these characteristics will be the efficiency of the future. 7. Profitable Efficiencies As productivity increases, the need to get the actual work done increases through various techniques including environmental manipulation. Finding ways within the environment to help individual employees become more profitable on a case by case basis will be increasing. This leads to individualized options that can be flexible between employees. Additionally, effective use of materials and modular changeover with an eye towards the environment will reduce expense through recycling and the elimination of waste creating other layers of efficiency. 8. Turnaround Speed With all this increase adaptability and flexibility, there is an increasing need to turnaround workforce environment changes. Thus having a prefabricated system of components with a future view manufactured in a controlled environment off site nd then recycled will be ideal in saving time and money as environments change. DIRTT | Withum StoryThe Withum story is a great example of how a company used ICE and VR to create efficiency and adaptability in design as well as make employee focused design decisions prior to construction.
Clever + DIRTT | The Hive StoryClever and DIRTT created successful and adaptable space in a retrofit for the 3M Hive think tank. The spaces created became so popular that they had to put signs up to prevent other divisions from using their spaces. A variety of flexible and adaptable techniques were used that included fully integrated technology and acoustical controls for open workspaces, enclosed teaming rooms, breakout areas, and conferencing spaces. Author | Russell Peterson ALA CIDRussell Peterson is a strategist and architect with Clever Architecture in Saint Paul Minnesota. He enjoys digging holes in the ground to plant trees and singing unless his daughters tell him to shush. The following resources were used in developing this article:
https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/how-workforce-will-change-in-2019-6-predictions.html https://www.mercer.com/our-thinking/career/voice-on-talent/five-workplace-trends-shaping-the-future-of-work-which-are-most-important-to-you.html https://danschawbel.com/blog/the-top-10-workplace-trends-for-2019/ https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/13/5-top-workplace-trends-to-watch-in-2019.html https://blog.wunderlandgroup.com/in-with-the-new-8-defining-characteristics-of-the-future-of-work
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AuthorRussell Peterson RA CID is a practice leader in the firm of Clever Architecture. He talks way to much and listens even more. The best part of being an architect for Russ is the people. His favorite project is the next project. He is usually reachable at 763 | 226 | 3063 or russ@cleverarchitecture.com.
In the meantime, if you are worried about productivity and the health of your employees, give Clever Architecture a call or send us an email. We can provide numerous solutions to fit your need and budget.
Numerous recent studies have made the case that lack of access to sunlight (vitamin D) cause inefficiencies in employee work output. A study by the Neuroscience department from Northwestern University in Chicago titled, "Impact of Workplace Daylight Exposure on Sleep, Physical Activity, and Quality of Life," concludes that there is a significant relationship between workplace daylight exposure and office workers' activity. According to a review in Psychology Today this causes significant daytime dysfunction and lower testing outcomes. One could counter the affects with light boxes and other lighting features as well as vitamin supplements, but that can prove to be expensive and not always effective. The best solution is to insure quality access to sunlight. You don't have to put in this many windows, but a naturally lit workplace with appropriate environmental controls can significantly improve employee performance and in the long run save money. As a bonus, a properly designed building with the right windows and overall envelope could operate more efficiently than one without.
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