Workplace strategy
Encyclopedia
Workplace Strategy is the dynamic alignment of an organization
’s work patterns with the work environment to enable peak performance and reduce costs.
such as: reducing property costs, improving business performance, merging two or more organisations/cultures, and relocating or consolidating occupied buildings. In more simple terms, the workplace strategy provides a response to either running out of space, having too much space, or wanting to introduce organisational change. The workplace strategy and its implementation quite often occur at an opportune moment such as a property lease break or a company merger or acquisition. In the United Kingdom
the workplace strategy is often associated with the Royal Institute of British Architects
Plan of Work stages A and B.
The proposed workplace strategy will focus on how to use the space more efficiently and effectively. Recommendations often include moving from cellular (predominantly private office) environments to open plan
, or introducing new ways of working and moving to a flexible or agile working environment, as first proposed by Frank Duffy
. Flexible working is where the occupants have access to a range of work settings, including working at home or on the move, but also share workstations, often referred to as hot desking
or the related hotelling
. An easy to follow review of workplace strategies is provided by Eley and Marmot
s or the service may provided from within an architectural practice. Savage notes that:
External workplace consultants are professionals from a number of backgrounds: business management, interior design and architecture, building surveying, real estate and facilities management, human resources and building research.
to test the impact of workplace stategies, desgn and new technologies on business performance.
in the Republic of Ireland
has established a National Workplace Strategy "National Workplace Strategy" defined as:
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
’s work patterns with the work environment to enable peak performance and reduce costs.
Components and aims of a workplace strategy
The role of the person charged with developing the strategy, the 'workplace strategist', is to understand the organisation's requirements and recommend a workplace solution that will help them meet their current and future needs. The workplace strategy may facilitate meeting business objectivesStrategic planning
Strategic planning is an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy. In order to determine the direction of the organization, it is necessary to understand its current position and the possible avenues...
such as: reducing property costs, improving business performance, merging two or more organisations/cultures, and relocating or consolidating occupied buildings. In more simple terms, the workplace strategy provides a response to either running out of space, having too much space, or wanting to introduce organisational change. The workplace strategy and its implementation quite often occur at an opportune moment such as a property lease break or a company merger or acquisition. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
the workplace strategy is often associated with the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
Plan of Work stages A and B.
The proposed workplace strategy will focus on how to use the space more efficiently and effectively. Recommendations often include moving from cellular (predominantly private office) environments to open plan
Open plan
Open plan is the generic term used in architectural and interior design for any floor plan which makes use of large, open spaces and minimizes the use of small, enclosed rooms such as private offices...
, or introducing new ways of working and moving to a flexible or agile working environment, as first proposed by Frank Duffy
Frank Duffy (architect)
Francis Cuthbert "Frank" Duffy CBE is a British architect, a founder of DEGW, the international architectural and design practice best known for office design and workplace strategy and, more recently for advanced thinking on the programming of educational and arts facilities...
. Flexible working is where the occupants have access to a range of work settings, including working at home or on the move, but also share workstations, often referred to as hot desking
Hot desking
Hot desking originates from the definition of being the temporary physical occupant of a work station or surface by a particular employee. The term hot desking is thought to be derived from the naval practice, called hot racking, where sailors on different shifts share bunks...
or the related hotelling
Hotelling (office)
Hoteling is a method of supporting unassigned seating in an office environment. It is similar to hot desking, and is sometimes confused with it, since both methods support unassigned seating...
. An easy to follow review of workplace strategies is provided by Eley and Marmot
Workplace consultants
Workplace strategies tend to be developed by specialist workplace consultantConsultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
s or the service may provided from within an architectural practice. Savage notes that:
"The successful implementation of a workplace strategy requires an interdisciplinary team, internal and external to the organization ... A workplace consultant may be retained to engage the team, help define success criteria, manage the process, and assess results."
External workplace consultants are professionals from a number of backgrounds: business management, interior design and architecture, building surveying, real estate and facilities management, human resources and building research.
Research
Research is currently under way by the General Services AdministrationGeneral Services Administration
The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
to test the impact of workplace stategies, desgn and new technologies on business performance.
In Ireland
The National Centre for Partnership and PerformanceNational Centre for Partnership and Performance
The National Centre for Partnership and Performance , based in Dublin, Ireland, is an Irish government agency that was established in 2001 to promote and facilitate workplace change and innovation through partnership...
in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
has established a National Workplace Strategy "National Workplace Strategy" defined as:
"the Government's blueprint to help transform Ireland's workplaces into Workplaces of the Future, by promoting greater levels of partnership-led change and innovation in our places of work, regardless of size or sector. As Ireland continues its economic and social transition to a knowledge-based economy and society, the Strategy’s underlying premise is that all companies and organisations can achieve improved performance and an enhanced Quality of working lifeQuality of working life"Quality of Working Life" is a term that had been used to describe the broader job-related experience an individual has.-Quality of Working Life and related concepts: job satisfaction, workplace stress and quality of life:...
by improving their capacity to manage change and innovation within the workplace."