How Start up companies or IT companies looking for Innovative Workspace
Business truly has become more diverse and change intensive. In today’s globalized world change remains the only constant, and being able to adapt effectively is crucial to success. In order to stay on the competitive edge, many new forward-thinking companies are now using their workplace as powerful knowledge-sharing and staff attraction and retention tools. To maximize the opportunities arising from workplace-related change, early dialogue sessions with workplace specialists experienced in workplace design and creation are essential. Such discussions ensure correct decisions are made before cost-binding choices, such as taking up or designing an inappropriate space, can impact the end result. Ultimately, early integration of workplace specialists can help businesses to plan in flexibility and adopt modular workplace strategies that makes future change easier, less expensive and less disruptive to the business. Using research processes to analyse intangible business goals, corporate culture and values and other underlying issues is fundamental to developing a brief that would ensure the right outcome for the business. To achieve this it is important that there is an interactive dialogue between client and Designers so that an understanding is developed that would result in a workplace solution that will fully support the client’s short and long-term business objectives. Flexible workspace Work environments are therefore important. We spend most of our waking hours at work, and how our office spaces are designed can have a substantial impact on our health, happiness, and work product. Studies have shown that offices designed with more natural light positively affects employees. They sleep longer and better, have more physical activity and a better quality of life compared to office workers with less light exposure in the workplace. But it’s not just about worker happiness or health. Office spaces can also influence an employee’s creativity and innovation, which are critical for a company’s overall success. The best ideas don’t come from an employee answering email in a cubicle. They come from a space in which employees have room to explore, collaborate, and connect. Companies of all types increasingly recognize this. It’s one thing to know you need an innovative workspace — it’s another to actually create one. There are many ways to design for innovation and few basic principles if followed ensure the creation of a holistic environment that the employees will adapt and thrive. Today’s most innovative workspaces embrace mobility. Laptops, smartphones, and reliable WiFi connections mean that workers can say goodbye to the desk. Anything can become a workspace: a beanbag, a cafe table, even a floor. Companies adopt a flexible attitude when it comes to workplace design. Open office By incorporating open spaces with non-permanent walls or desks, companies can allow the office to evolve with technology over time. Designing different types of workspaces, such as sitting desk areas, standing desks, and open lounge areas throughout the office will promote productivity and inspiration. Flexible project rooms are designed for ever-changing team structures and fully demountable sustainable moveable walls are used for partitions. The result is an office that can be reconfigured to meet the changing needs of the team or technology at a moment’s notice.People in innovative workplaces work from conference rooms more than they work from open areas, and more individuals rely on amenities near their office space more often. Even though the future of work places is moving towards a more open plan low hierarchical solutions, there are a few negative aspects that need to be addressed whilst designing futuristic work places. Generally people are positive about advanced ICT, the attractive layout complete with ergonomic furniture, the greater amount of freedom to choose a workplace, and enhanced communication. On the other hand, there are numerous complaints about the lack of privacy and countless stimuli that often distract personnel and decrease concentration levels. Fewer opportunities to express one’s status, identity and to personalise a workplace are also less appreciated features of flexible working. Overall, the opinion in some projects is positive, but there are those where the majority of employees would prefer to return to the old situation. Sound technology, favourable conditions for both social interaction and the opportunity to concentrate while working, and a proper ratio between the number of employees and workplaces are crucial. A careful implementation process with sufficient managerial commitment, an enthusiastic initiator, clear lines of communication and decision-making processes, and a sound balance between top-down and bottom-up appear to be just as important. In addition to the office concept, a pleasant indoor climate, personal control over the surroundings and proper support facilities are also decisive for employee satisfaction.Before fully embracing a final design concept, management may well want to validate the design with testing of individual directions. The building of a Pilot Space that mirrors the final office space enables staff to experience short-listed design options first-hand. This is an effective way of obtaining feedback to validate a design or in some cases management direction. Ultimately, such a space not only helps familiarize people with their future office but also enables them to be part of the design process, therefore achieving crucial buy-in. Pilot Spaces supports management in the decision making process and helps to secure true consensus between multiple decision makers from different divisions or when a true understanding of the design needs to be achieved and a test run is desired. Before fully embracing a final design concept, management may well want to validate the design with testing of individual directions. The building of a Pilot Space that mirrors the final office space enables staff to experience short-listed design options first-hand. This is an effective way of obtaining feedback to validate a design or in some cases management direction. Ultimately, such a space not only helps familiarize people with their future office but also enables them to be part of the design process, therefore achieving crucial buy-in. Pilot Spaces supports management in the decision making process and helps to secure true consensus between multiple decision makers from different divisions or when a true understanding of the design needs to be achieved and a test run is desired.
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