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Well-designed office key to improving employee performance
NEW YORK—Recently released research conducted
by Gensler, a leading architecture and design
firm, concluded that poor workplace design could be costing
American businesses $330 billion annually in lost productivity.
The Gensler 2006 U.S. Workplace Survey reveals that
workplace design has a very real impact on companies’ bottom
lines. Findings suggest businesses that ignore the design and
layout of their workplaces are failing to optimize the full
value of their human capital.
“Businesses are waking up
to the fact that the workplace is much more than just real estate
and a means to house their people,” said Diane Hoskins,
an Executive Director at Gensler. “They are embracing performance-focused
workplace design as a strategic business initiative—as
the forum that can drive employee excellence, business objectives,
and ultimately, the bottom line.”
According to the survey,
nine in ten workers believe that better office design leads
to better overall employee performance, and also makes a
company more competitive. Nearly 90% of senior executives,
including occupants of the C-suite, feel that a better physical
working environment would have a positive impact on their
company’s
bottom line. They also estimate that their companies would be
able to perform an average of 22% more work if their physical
working environments were designed better. |
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Gensler,
San Francisco, California. Photo courtesy of Gensler.
Photography by Sherman Takata
bp
WOW!, Houston, Texas.
Photo courtesy of Gensler, Photograph
by Joe
Aker |
Discovery
Communications, Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of
Gensler. Photograph by Paul Warchol |
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However, in practice, many businesses seem to ascribe
a low value to workplace design. Forty-six percent of workers
do not believe creating a productive workplace is a priority
at their companies, and 40% say that minimizing costs is
the main reason behind their workplace’s current layout.
One in five respondents rated their current physical workplace
environment as being only “fair to poor.”
The survey also demonstrates a link between the physical
office and work processes such as innovation, collaboration,
and creativity. Two thirds of workers believe they are more
efficient when they work closely with co-workers. However,
about 30% of workers don’t think their current workspace
promotes spontaneous interaction, collaboration, or cooperation
and teamwork among colleagues and direct reports. Only 50%
believe that their current workplace design encourages innovation
and creativity.
Topping the list of employee grievances about
physical environment were lack of space, too few quiet areas,
uncomfortable workstations and bad layout and design. Other
notable results from the study include: |
- Over one third of respondents say their current workplace design
does not promote health and well-being; yet healthy and secure
working conditions are reported as the most important factors
in an efficient working environment.
- 62% of U.S. office workers have great respect for leaders who
work in an open plan environment with their teams rather than
in private offices.
- Only 42% of respondents say they would be proud to show important
customers or potential recruits their current workplaces.
McCann
Erickson, Los
Angeles, California.
Photo courtesy of Gensler.
Photograph by Michelle Litvin |
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Gensler is working with a number of companies, such as
BP, Discovery Communications, and the Hearst Corporation,
that have identified workplace design as critical to innovating
and competing in the 21st century. With strategically planned
workplaces, these companies aim to leverage their “organizational
intelligence.” For example, BP is using a Gensler-designed
workplace prototype to inform and infuse a new office design
with attributes that clearly motivate collaborative work for
the Houston Exploration and Production group.
For more information,
please visit, gensler.com/news/2006/07-20_workSurvey.html |
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