The built environment can have a significant positive (or negative) effect on our work experience. At an individual level, we intuitively understand the effects of the physical space, but when we try to demonstrate the sources and types of effects, we are often unable to do so. This lack of evidence creates a divergence of opinion between management, workforce, and design professionals as to the value that workspace design adds to organizational success and why organizational leadership should invest in more mindful design of knowledge work environments. To address this problem of practice, an exploratory, multi-method series of three studies was conducted. The first study is qualitative in nature and explores how knowledge work organizations and design teams develop workspace design projects. The results reveal a divergence of vision, values, and vernacular amongst the actors in the initial design criteria-setting phase that obscures a unified problem definition resulting in disparate perceptions of workspace success. It also reveals that workers are not directly engaged in the process of determining the problem definition and design criteria. The second study evaluates workers' perceived satisfaction with components of their workspace as predictors of their emotional and behavioral response to work. This quantitative study measures workers' cognitive assessment of satisfaction with the components of their workspace and facilities and tests their predictive value on worker job engagement, job satisfaction and performance. The results demonstrate that workers' satisfaction with components of the work environment do not predict the effects on the emotional states of workers. Thus, the study uncovers deeper issues involved in determining the effects of workspace on emotional and behavioral outcomes. A third study assesses the workers' affective experience of the integral work environment on their emotional response to work. The results indicate an overwhelming effect of the experiential workplace on the emotional response of workers, including engagement. This set of three studies points towards a new paradigm for the methodology of workplace design project delivery by placing emphasis on the worker holistic, integral experience of the workplace. A new, emergent process model is proposed, which is worker centered, that establishes a clear relationship between the physical work environment and organizational performance outcomes.

This book provides an understanding and imaging of how a stress-free workplace might be designed and implemented in the context of the ‘new normal.’ Statistics show that more and more people are experiencing an increase in work-related stress, and its impact on individual psychology and well-being as well as organizational performance can be devastating. Globally, the most recent data on work-related illnesses account for 2.4 million deaths. Against this backdrop, and taking stock of how the pandemic is affecting the workplace and employee well-being, this book proposes transformations in work spaces, from implementing effective “greening” features, to more efficient technology-supported spaces. It establishes links between workplace design and creativity, happiness and productivity, confronting related issues such as generation gaps, digital interruptions, collaborative work environments and sustainability, and their respective connections with workspace environment and well-being. The book situates this discussion within a broader discussion on work and quality of life. Furthermore, the book demonstrates how several sustainable development goals might be achieved through transformed work spaces. Through an intersection between organizational psychology, well-being and quality of life studies, sociology, human resources, and ergonomics, this book is a timely examination of work-related stress in relation to work spaces that require rethinking and transformation in the throes, and wake, of the pandemic.

A revealing look at work environments that lead to greater loyalty and an increase in productivity Exploring the premise that the best way to attract and retain people, and their knowledge, will come from designing environments that turn today's increasingly virtual workplace into an attractive place for people to spend their time, Management by Design: Applying Design Principles to the Work Experience shows how the principles of design can be successfully applies to the work experience, making it a rewarding and productive. Reveals why the application of design to the workplace experience can improve the employee/employer relationship Why increased morale and employee loyalty start with a great work environment Explains why it is more important than ever to manage work experiences, especially with the projected work shortages in the coming decades Other titles by Rasmus: Listening to the Future: Why It's Everybody's Business This innovative book helps managers and executives connect the dots between employee retention, positive brand expression, and lasting stories that reflect well on an organization.

Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the world of work has undergone a lasting transformation. Individuals, organizations and institutions are seeking the right balance of workspace opportunities. Workers want to know how remote work can fit into their lives, and how the office can meet their needs. In The Workplace You Need Now: Shaping Spaces for the Future of Work, work environment executives and experts Dr. Sanjay Rishi, Benjamin Breslau and Peter Miscovich deliver a practical framework for how to plan, invest in and create effective digital/physical hybrid workplaces that are beginning to define the world of work. The book explores paths to creating new workplaces that drive the four C's of value: culture, collaboration, creativity, and community. It walks you through the design of custom, flexible, digitally integrated workplaces that manifest new ways of working, and attract tomorrow's top talent. You'll discover the personalized, responsible, and experiential workplace that individuals and organizations alike seek to encourage human interaction, and fuel creativity and growth. You’ll learn the path to the purposeful, resilient workplace that incorporates the emerging imperatives of health, wellness and environmental sustainability. Rich with examples from leading organizations from across the globe, The Workplace You Need Now is an indispensable resource for individuals, as well as businesses of all shapes and sizes trying to find the right solution that works for them right now.

Offices shape the lives of millions of people. How we plan, design and equip them says a great deal about the culture of organisations, the mentality of managers and the motivations of staff. But getting the right balance between management efficiency and individual wellbeing is as elusive as ever. New Demographics New Workspace looks for answers in some new places. The authors address ways in which the office environment can be redesigned to offer greater levels of comfort, flexibility and fitness for purpose in the new age of the older knowledge worker. Based on the findings of the authors 'Welcoming Workplace' research project at the Royal College of Art Helen Hamlyn Centre, New Demographics New Workspace examines the impact of two of the most significant shifts in the workplace: the ageing of the workforce and the changing nature of work itself in the knowledge economy. By examining the movements and motivations of older knowledge workers in the UK, Japan and Australia, the authors have generated new conceptual approaches to office design that offer an alternative to the current outdated model derived from the factory floor. In particular they question the value of open-plan offices that favour collaboration over concentration and contemplation. Given the growing pensions crisis and anticipated knowledge gap in the workforce in many developed countries, this book has real political, economic and social resonance. If we are all going to have extended working lives in the 21st century, the places in which we work will need to flex and adapt to make us want to keep on working.

Why do most digital work environments slow employees down? Many organizations have lost control of the digital workplace to uncoordinated organic growth. If you're looking for tools to get back in the driver's seat and maximize value creation, then Digital Workplace Strategy & Design is just what the doctor ordered. With its ready-to-use templates and real-world examples, you will be primed to master the digital workplace and unlock the enormous potential of a holistic, iterative, and user-centered approach based on design thinking. The time and money your organization will save and the hassle your employees will be spared are just the tip of the iceberg. Imagine how much value your employees will create when they are empowered to work smarter together. Your step-by-step guide to - Identifying key problems and digital opportunities. - Adopting a new and smarter approach to the digital workplace. - Maximizing value creation with the help of service orientation. - Crafting a powerful digital workplace strategy rooted in hands-on experience and proven methodology. - Learning how to design winning digital services with actionable tools. What sets this book apart What distinguishes this book from others on digitalization, digital transformation, and the digital workplace is how extensively it is used in practice. This is because authors Oscar Berg and Henrik Gustafsson draw from a wealth of hands-on experience and apply these same steps in multinational companies from a variety of industries. Join the community Grab this book today and join a growing community of digital workplace and digitalization changemakers.

An explanation of how and why the economic downturn of 2007 became the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009. It explores the root causes of the cycle of boom and bust of the economy. It describes social equity in terms of its arguments and claims in political, economic, and social circumstances.