Workplace Strategy
PDF Write Up
For our workplace strategy project we worked with a company in which we cannot name due to signing an NDA, but I will be referring to the company as X.
Project Timeline: Fall of 2020
Location: Boston, MA
Software: Photoshop
Project Scope: To interview, and program portions of the office at X.
Context
In the coming years many workplaces are going to have to transition to a post-covid environment and create a workplace that accommodates the new hybrid work mode. X (a confidential company) is amongst many seeking to create a seamless transition to in-person work with accommodating for lifestyle changes created by the pandemic. Our team is proposing a concept called “The Bridge” that bridges the New Reality within spaces at X.
1. Space Selection
The spaces our group found most pertinent to change were the 6-8 Person Meeting Room, Workshop Room, and the Open Unassigned Workspace.
2. Mission Statement
The new reality is composed of fostering “vibrant community/ company culture” with the hybrid work model and supporting the sense of belonging through tangible solutions which will equalize work experience for in person and remote employees.
3. Goals
- vibrant community/ company culture
- hybrid work model
- sense of belonging
4. Solution 1: Hybrid Work Mode
- A virtual white board that shows zoom members faces at the top of the screen while those in the office can write on the board itself. The writing would appear synchronously.
-Spatial chat allows for more seamless communication in the workspace. It’s a giant zoom in which when you get to a close proximity to another user you can enter into a private meeting with them.
4. Solution 1: Hybrid Work Mode
- An employee location board to be held at reception will allow other employees to find their co-workers general location based off of where people indicate their location is in the office. When any employee begins their day, they will be asked to drop a pin indicating a general location of where they plan to be.
- Storage cubicles and closets will allow team members to hang up their coats and store their belongings in the workshop room for weeks at a time. This allows for higher personalization and belonging within the space.
6. Solution 3: Communication
- A gradient of zones would be layered throughout X. The space would be divided up between independent work, collaborative/independent work and highly collaborative work. The zones would be created throughout the usage of different furniture types.
Communication Lights: Green lights would be used to symbolize that the employee is open to communication, whereas the red light symbolizes that the employee is doing focused work and does not wish to be disturbed. The lights with no color mean the workstation is empty and is available for use.
7. Change Management: Post Use Statistics
- The white board would portray statistics after use indicating total time the white board was used in the session and how many touches there were from both in-person and remote members. This would give management at X some insight to their engagement.
- Communication Lights: The post-use statistics would determine the duration of the total time of green and red light usage at the desk. Individuals who are remote receive these engagement stats with the communication light system through an online platform measuring duration of status being red or green. An anonymous form at the end asking how productive you were and computer adds up the time in green and red.
8. Change Management: Change Management Form
9. Conclusions
This research, as well as recommendations can be applicable to other offices at X and beyond X. Solution sets like the virtual whiteboard and employee location board are not yet developed and would require a series of programmers and engineers to create. Although this may be expensive to develop, this technology could be sold to other workplaces as solutions for the hybrid work model which can influence workplace trends regarding satisfaction, flexibility, and engagement in the New Reality.
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