International news

Last may researchers of the CfPB participated in the European Facility Management Conference in Vienna. Iris de Been presented a study into aspects of the working environment which best predict perceived productivity.  According to our data (over 10.000 respondents

from 71 case studies), the ability to concentrate has a substantial influence on the perceived

productivity in general, as well as of the individual, the team and the organisation. The possibility to communicate only has impact on the perceived team and organisational productivity. Marion Beijer together with Peggie Rothe from Aalto university in Finland presented a study which explores similarities and dissimilarities in work environment priorities of Finnish and Dutch office users, as well as of different age groups. Finally Theo van der Voordt together with Chaiwat Riratanaphong presented another cultural study which compares satisfaction, use and preferences of the work environment between Thai and Dutch office users. As globalization increases, the workplaces today host employees with different nationalities and cultures. So it is important to understand and take into consideration cultural differences and their impact on user needs in decision making on accommodating people and the design, implementation and management of new work environments.

Key notes CfPB:

• Maarleveld, M., Been, de, I., The influence of the workplace on perceived productivity
• Rothe, P.M., Beijer, M., Voordt, van der, D.J.M., Most important aspects of the work environment -A comparison between two countries
• Riratanaphong, Ch., Voordt, van der, D.J.M., Impact of Workplace Change on Satisfaction and Productivity - A comparative analysis of case studies in Thailand and the Netherlands

The Center for People and Buildings this year celebrates it’s 10th anniversary. A good moment to reflect on the work we do. For that reason we call on everyone to let us know what they think is ‘the meaning of the workplace’. The best and most amusing contributions will (after permission) be published in our lustrumbook. Please join. Click here for more information.

In 2006 the CfPB published the workplace guide (‘Werkplekwijzer’). This guide provides a short and practical view on the choices and opportunities that are provided by implementing a new office concept. The major ingredient is a list of possible workplaces that shows managers and professionals different possibilities in the early stages of rethinking an office accommodation strategy. The book is a big success in the Netherlands. Over 6.000 copies have been sold. This inspired the authers (Juriaan van Meel, Yuri Martens en Hermen Jan van Ree) to compose an international edition: ‘Planning Office Spaces: a practical guide for managers and designers’. The book is available since octobre 2010.  

Reviews:

‘Workplace design made accessible – this book is a masterpiece of concise, balanced and coherent advice for users and architects.’

– Francis Duffy, co-founder DEGW

‘Planning Office Spaces is an inspiring and eminently practical book. A great source for anyone aspiring to successful office design.’

– Ian Fielder, CEO BIFM

 ‘A straightforward presentation of complicated concepts and a must read for both managers and staff before engaging in any workplace design process.’

–Michael Joroff, senior lecturer MIT

More information: click here

Somewhere in the north, a group of people only work four days a week and focus on quality of life and the balance between private and professional spheres. They talk openly of productivity, performance, they develop tools to measure employee satisfaction, productivity and labor costs associated with work environments. It does not occur to anyone to dump the most employees in the minimum square meters. Organizations and public and private bodies conduct or fund studies and advanced research to innovate in the design and organization of work spaces. This is not about furniture, or painting the walls in orange or smoking pot in the office. It is about placing the human being first and allow him to work under optimum conditions. Really.

Thus the leading article in the French magazine Office et Culture from September 2009 starts. In the article two French journalists report about an extensive tour they made past Dutch offices and office experts. Read more … Click here for the original article with some nice pictures of innovative Dutch buildings and offices.

Recently architect Kulwinder Panesar from New Zealand interrupted a family reunion in England to visit our Center. He was attracted by our evidence based approach of workplace research. He is enthusiast about our methods, philosophy and instruments and considers to introduce them to the New Zealand business community. In anticipation he already took along the workplace game. He was charmed by it because behavior is no issue in the New Zealand workplace debate which is quite polerized: one is in favor of open plan offices or in favor of cellular offices. As Panesar said "The game can help to discuss hybrid solutions, since behavior also isn't only black or only white".  

In a 'thought provoking paper'  (as mentioned by Benjamin Chirwin from CB Richard Ellis) Sandra Brunia and Anca Hartjes-Gosselink dive into the personalization of the workspace in non territorial offices. The message: be aware of the human need when entering an innovative office.  Click here for the article and the review.

Two students of the faculty of Architecture from the university of Melbourne have developed a method to involve people in the design of a new building, despite cultural, social and language differences. They were inspired by our workplace game, of which they say: "a bridge between people with different backgrounds, without usual rules and hierarchy. Gives deeper insight. Trust and communication built between the players and stakeholders and can therefore continue beyond the game". Click here for a short power point of the students.

The Work Environment Diagnosis Instrument (WODI®) is a scientifically developed tool that measures the appropriateness of and satisfaction with the work environment. We use the toolkit in most of our casestudies. The toolkit includes four different instruments to measure all aspects of the work environment in thematic modules. These include the extensive WODI Classic instrument, the more concise WODI®Light instrument and the WODI key performance indicator (KPI) which is used to measure the satisfaction with and characteristics of the office layout. In addition the toolkit also includes the Space Utilisation Monitor (SUM) which was developed to measure the use and appropriation of workplaces. Recently an English version of the WODI®Light instrument was developed. Click here for the article 'Measuring employee satisfaction in new offices - the WODI toolkit' in which the toolkit is further described.  

For our newsletter of april 2009 Evi de Bruyne interviewed Bridget Hardy the author of Working beyond walls and Gerry Hofkamp the author of Veranderen met ruimte. Click here for the interview.

The 10th of march a  Finnish delegation visited the CfPB. The members of the delegation participate in the TEKES program Spaces and places. Members have different business or government responsibilities. Mr. Olli Niemi of NCC, one of the leading construction and property development companies in the Nordic region told us afterwards he is quite impressed by the work of our center:

“The visit to Philips Innohub was good, Media park in Hilversum also. But the most interesting part of the visit was your center. I have just decided to work in Tampere university of technology one day in a week and I have thought, what is my future vision. One could be, that we together with Helsinki University could develop a center, which will focus partly in similar matters : people and spaces and places ( real + virtual).

In our newsletter from june 2008  expert John Worthington reflects on new ways of working that have emerged and on the consequences for the corporate office. Click here for his column.