| Space Planning: Leave room for the Human Element |
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The introduction of space-use strategies such as open plan workspace, modular cubicles, reduction of enclosed offices and hotelling were designed to save costs, both on the space and the inevitable churn. In an effort to sell these concepts to the corporations and their workers, improved productivity was promised as a by-product of enhanced teamwork, more interaction and better communication. |
| The office designs used to execute the strategies saved costs by focussing on modular design, fixed cubicle sizes and an overall reduction in space allocated to each employee. Technological advances in modular furniture supported this initiative and even enhanced the flexibility of designing office space as well as reducing churn costs. |
| These new designs met and even exceeded the requirement of the new strategies. Unfortunately, while the ideals were based on solid theory, they are failing on a practical level. This is because of the Human Element. Based on the dynamics of human interaction, the changing corporate environment and a historically narrow approach to impacting the bottom line, the Human Element is quietly disproving the strategies of the past and prompting a re-look at how office environments are planned and shaped. There is no doubt that the bottom line is an important measurement of corporate success. |
| In order to focus on the bottom line, the current space planning strategies promised cost savings. Productivity was usually left off the page entirely as a result of the age-old problem of putting a dollar value on productivity. This isn’t surprising, as Facilities costs were escalating and the bottom line was getting thinner. |
| The emerging importance of the Facility Management professional within the corporation required a concrete, measurable formula for proving savings and calculating pay-back. The Human Element couldn’t be quantified, so it was largely ignored, even though the cost of space typically represents only 5-10% of the total cost of employing the average worker. |
| The Human Element is increasing in importance as a result of the changing corporate environment and the new global economy, which is increasingly based on highly skilled knowledge workers. Success relies on squeezing as much productivity, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking from employees as possible just to keep ahead of the wave. |
| The strategies of the past emphasized team work, interaction and communication. They are still important, however the lack of privacy and the increase in distractions provided by typical space plans are taking their toll. In practice, the open workspace is a distraction to most workers and has a significant impact on their productivity. |
| An office with more enclosed offices and a higher level of privacy doesn’t necessarily discourage interaction, it simply changes the dynamics of the interaction and allows workers to spend more time concentrating on their work. |
| That’s not to say that the current space planning methods can’t continue to be applied. In specific work environments, they are very effective. The issue is to what extent we can continue to apply a generic, rigid approach to office layouts that focuses primarily on cost savings without considering the Human Element and the true relationship of cost savings to the employees ability to add value to the bottom line. |
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Article Source: http://www.fminsight.com/space-planning-leave-room-for-the-human-element/#more-21 |
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| Coffee is the world's second most valuable traded commodity, only behind petroleum. |
| Energy drinks still don't have as much caffeine as a Starbucks coffee. |
| Coffee is most effective if consumed between 9:30 am and 11:30 am. |
| The world consumes close to 2.25 billion cups of coffee every day. |
| Coffee beans aren't beans. They are fruit pits. |
| Drinking a cup of caffeinated coffee significantly improves blood flow. |
Source:
https://www.factslides.com/s-Coffee |
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