scholarly journals Is a new office a blessing in disguise? The strategic importance of relocation

Facilities ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Essi Tuomala ◽  
Vitalija Danivska ◽  
Robin Gustafsson
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Short Distance ◽  
Rare Event ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Environment Change ◽  
Business Decision ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Productivity Costs ◽  
Knowledge Intensive

Purpose Corporate relocation is a rare event in the history of an individual company. The choices related to location, building and workplace constitute major long-term strategic decisions that determine the company’s future operating environment. However, business decision-makers often do not evaluate all the aspects of relocation before making relocation decisions. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to systemise the knowledge behind corporate relocation and the strategic qualities and impacts of these choices. Design/methodology/approach This conceptual paper is based on a comprehensive literature review of 74 articles on the strategic qualities of short-distance corporate relocation of knowledge-intensive firms. Based on the review insights, a conceptual model of the strategic operational qualities for work environment selection is developed. Findings This paper identifies three strategic layers of physical environment change, namely, location, building and physical work environment, which need to be considered when deciding to relocate. Corporate relocation affects a company through five operational qualities, namely, staff productivity, costs, employee retention and availability, operational changes and organisational culture. Practical implications Relocation is a complex process for an individual company. Justifying choices based on direct costs can lead to unexpected changes in indirect costs for the company. This paper helps decision-makers understand the strategic importance of corporate relocation, identify relocation goals and plan successful relocation. Originality/value This paper uses a strategy and organisation lens to provide a systematic overview and synthesis of the strategic qualities of short-distance corporate relocation of knowledge-intensive firms.

Work environment transformation in the post COVID-19 based on work values of the future workforce

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fruzsina Pataki-Bittó ◽  
Kata Kapusy
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Work Values ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Value Theory ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Generation Z ◽  
The Future ◽  
Work Value

Purpose The purpose of this study is to find out the future workforce’s work values and, based on them, to examine the work environment Generation Z are looking for in the situation of job search. Moreover, this study aims to provide ideas for organizations on how to transform the work environment for the post-COVID-19 era to attract and retain employees, especially the members of Generation Z. Design/methodology/approach The research design is based on the theory development method. Data were generated and collected from 28 focus groups and a survey (n = 773). First, initial coding was done with an affinity diagram, followed by the intermediate coding phase, when the authors compared the codings’ results and selected the core data. Finally, the advanced coding resulted in a work value model, which presents Generation Z’s core work value categories. Findings The paper presents a work value theory for Generation Z, which reflects their expectations of the physical work environment and the flexible work arrangements among the work values. To prepare for the post-COVID-19 era, this study suggests organizations applying hybrid working models. Practical implications Based on impacts and expected transformations in office work in the post-COVID-19 era, the paper calls attention to the critical management issues concerning Generation Z’s preferences and expectations. Originality/value The findings propose a broader work value theory approach that highlights the work environment’s convenience features and integrates values that support the employees’ desired lifestyle and well-being.

Pride and productivity – introducing and testing the Healing Offices® design concept

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-340
Author(s):  
Anicee Carolyn Bauer
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Design Concept ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Personal Contact ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Objective Quality

Purpose The purpose of this study is to learn to what extent the physical workspace can contribute to employee health and happiness. In this context, it introduces an evidence-based design concept and evaluation method for workplaces to transform the traditional subjective design process into a more objective, systematic approach. Identifying issues regarding physical design and work culture is assumed to lead to a better person-environment fit. Design/methodology/approach The study describes a comparison between a pre-measurement at an IT company’s old workplace and a post-measurement in the new location with a new office design. The independent variable is the objective quality of the physical work environment, which was determined by an interior quality index. The dependent variables were the perceived health, engagement, comfort and productivity, assessed by an online questionnaire and interviews. Findings The objective quality of the work environment improved remarkably, especially regarding sustainability, diversity, nature and the possibilities to move and relax. The subjective experience of employees also improved, specifically regarding feelings of comfort and energy, possibly because of a more inspirational and diverse environment, which also better captured the company identity. A more connected workspace moreover seemed to relate to more physical activity and personal contact, as well as to teamwork and productivity. Originality/value The study promotes an evidence-based design approach for design and real-state, encouraging all stakeholders to design responsibly: to work more closely together, take well-informed design decisions and evaluate and learn from what was “left behind.” It also stresses the power of tailor-made designs, as any design eventually is shaped by its broader cultural context.

Building business cred in the hood

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Charles Cachon
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Strategic Thinking ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Business Decision ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Issues ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Indigenous Territories ◽  
Indigenous Perspectives

Purpose Primary sector firms by and large operate on indigenous territories across the world. In Canada, partnerships, land rights settlements, decolonization and reconciliation efforts provide indigenous communities with the financial means and the political power to stop projects they consider contrary to their traditions. How can companies acquire legitimacy among indigenous communities? This paper aims to answer this question by examining what the economic issues are among indigenous communities, how theories and practices of sustainable and legitimacy management articulated and how some basic notions of traditional indigenous teachings could inform non-indigenous managers are and help them interact better with indigenous leaders and their communities. Design/methodology/approach This paper was informed about indigenous knowledge by secondary and primary indigenous and business sources from North America and from other areas such as Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Information about business relations with indigenous communities and stakeholders mostly came from non-indigenous sources, including scholarly results obtained within indigenous communities. Findings Sources of incompatibility between indigenous and European/Western worldviews are described. A selection of indigenous traditional beliefs and decision-making processes are presented, based on indigenous traditions around the Great Lakes region of North America. A discussion of desirable options for both indigenous and non-indigenous decision-makers to establish business legitimacy by overcoming their misperceptions is included. Practical implications A better understanding of economic issues in indigenous communities, indigenous perspectives and current developments, as well as lessons from the recent decades on successes and failures at establishing business legitimacy among indigenous communities, will help government and business decision-makers, as well as students and academic scholars. Originality/value Mainly based on management legitimacy theory and Anishnaabe knowledge, this paper makes an original contribution to the understanding of Indigenous strategic thinking in North America in its interaction with business legitimacy building issues.

Perceived influence of work relationship, work load and physical work environment on job satisfaction of librarians in South-West, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 377-398
Author(s):  
Stella Ngozi Anasi
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Work Load ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Management ◽  
South West ◽  
Physical Work Environment ◽  
Work Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the composite influence of perceived work relationship, work load and physical work environment on the job satisfaction of librarians in South-West, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a descriptive survey design. A multi-stage sampling technique was used for this study. The instrument used for data collection was a self-structured questionnaire, and a total of 102 academic librarians responded to the questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Findings The results indicate that there is a significant linear relationship among work relationship, workload, work environment and job satisfaction. Among the variables examined, workload is not a statistically significant predictor of the job satisfaction of librarians, but work relationship and work environment have a statistically significant relative effect on the job satisfaction of librarians. Research limitations/implications Further studies should evaluate the causal link between work relationships, work load and work environment on job satisfaction using randomized control. Practical implications The important result in this study is that there is a significant linear relationship among work relationship, workload, work environment and job satisfaction; therefore, if these factors are adequately taken care of, there will be increased employee motivation, reduced staff turnover and increased job satisfaction among librarians in Nigerian universities. The university library management could take advantage of workshops and seminars on how to build and maintain work relationship and work environment (hygiene factors) to improve employees’ job satisfaction. The seminars and workshop will increase the knowledge of university library management on how to develop coherent friendly co-workers policy practices and workload policy practices to enhance the job satisfaction of librarians in public universities in Nigeria. Librarians should be assigned tasks that are moderately demanding because both overload and under load could lead to job dissatisfaction. Regarding research, this study offered a basis for a continuing debate on work relationship, organizational relationships, work environment, work load and job satisfaction. Originality/value Despite the growing global concern for workers well-being in organizations, not much attention has been given to the influence of workplace relationship, work load and work environment on the job satisfaction of librarians in Nigeria. Thus, the results of this research contribute to the body of knowledge regarding job satisfaction among librarians and provide significant evidence on the influence of work relationship, work load and work environment on the job satisfaction of librarians.

Hospital employees’ perceptions of circadian lighting: a pharmacy department case study

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 422-437
Author(s):  
Lindsay J. McCunn ◽  
Jeremy Wright
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Organizational Commitment ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Psychosocial Variables ◽  
Affective Organizational Commitment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Physical Work Environment

Purpose An interdisciplinary body of literature has focused on the role of lighting in mitigating patient and employee stress and error-producing conditions in hospital settings. The purpose of this study is to explore how a new circadian lighting system installed in a small pharmacy unit with no penetration of natural light is experienced by staff. Psychosocial variables, such as affective organizational commitment, perceived productivity, well-being, and satisfaction with the physical work environment, were measured to further a line of inquiry that may help facilities managers and hospital administrators make optimal choices when purchasing lighting and commissioning retrofits. Design/methodology/approach Post-occupancy evaluation; mixed methods survey design. Findings While affective organizational commitment, perceived productivity, well-being and satisfaction with the physical work environment were experienced, to some extent, by employees, low average responses about whether the setting had improved, as the circadian lighting had been installed suggest that the retrofit did not affect them as positively as expected. Counter to the intention of the installation, participants did not perceive the circadian lighting as having strongly improved their levels of stress, concentration, mood or fatigue at work. Originality/value More research on simulated daylighting should be done to optimize occupant responses to lighting retrofits in hospitals. This case study supports recommendations to measure relevant psychosocial variables before and after a design change. Similarly, sized units within hospitals and health care facilities that possess analogous dimensions and design constraints concerning a lack of daylight penetration will benefit from this study’s mixed methods, results and interpretations.

Activity-based work and its implications for the academic work environment

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuija Muhonen ◽  
Hanne Berthelsen
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Employee Performance ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Academic Work ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe aim of the current interview study was to investigate how the university staff and their immediate managers perceived the academic work environment after a transition to activity-based workplaces (ABW).Design/methodology/approachInterviews were conducted with 11 university lecturers/researchers and 12 academic middle managers, that is, heads of departments or units in a Swedish university.FindingsThe qualitative content analysis revealed four central themes indicating how the academic environment had been affected: challenges related to decision-making and implementation of ABW, interpersonal relations and communication, consequences for academic identity and issues related to the physical work environment.Research limitations/implicationsThe non-purposive sampling of participants coming from a single university is a limitation of the current study. More studies are needed to deepen the knowledge and to further corroborate the transferability of the findings.Practical implicationsThe savings the universities expect to achieve in terms of reduced costs for premises, when introducing ABW, may lead to other kinds of costs, such as jeopardizing employee performance, comfort and well-being. It is therefore important that the academic staff is empowered and involved during the planning and implementation process of new offices.Originality/valueThe study contributes new knowledge concerning implementation of ABW and its consequences for the academic work environment.

Police officers’ perceptions of the challenges involved in Internet Child Exploitation investigation

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 543-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martine B. Powell ◽  
Peter Cassematis ◽  
Mairi S. Benson ◽  
Stephen Smallbone ◽  
Richard Wortley
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Child Exploitation ◽  
Physical Work Environment ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore police officers’ perceptions of the challenges and work stressors of working in Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) investigation. Design/methodology/approach – Participants were a heterogeneous sample of 32 ICE investigators across nine Australian jurisdictions. Officers’ perceptions of ICE work were elicited via individual, open-ended, anonymous, telephone interviews, which focused on both the nature and impact of work-related stressors and challenges. Findings – Thematic analysis revealed that viewing ICE material was not perceived to be a major stressor or particularly traumatic facet of ICE investigation. Rather, the challenges related to three areas; work relationships, workload and resources and the physical environment. Participants also suggested some improvements to their work environment which could reduce the impact of these challenges. Practical implications – The stressors identified by ICE investigators in this study place physical, psychological and social restrictions on investigative capacity. Modifications to the workplace environment that facilitate more effective professional collaboration, reduce workload and enhance investigator efficiency and functionality of the physical work environment would likely reduce the potential for harm associated with ICE investigation and improve ICE investigators’ capacity to perform their role. Originality/value – This is the first study to use a broad research framework to examine the full range of stressors that ICE investigators face (both organisational and operational). The findings are important for developing comprehensive theories regarding workplace traumatisation as well as holistic intervention models to assist the prevention and management of stress related to ICE investigation.

A novel mechanism for business analytics value creation: improvement of knowledge-intensive business processes

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivera Marjanovic
Keyword(s):  
Value Creation ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Experiential Knowledge ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Business Analytics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Knowledge ◽  
Distribution Company ◽  
Knowledge Intensive

Purpose This paper focuses on the “how” of business analytics (BA) value creation, which remains an open research problem and a practical challenge. The main purpose of this paper is to propose a novel BA value creation mechanism that is BA-enabled improvement of Knowledge-intensive Business Processes (KIBPs), with experiential knowledge of decision makers as the key to a more sustainable BA-enabled competitive differentiation. Design/methodology/approach This research uses a qualitative research case study, conducted in a large retail distribution company. The research insights were observed through a combined lens of work systems theory and the knowledge-based view (KBV) of the firm, using an interpretive approach. Findings The proposed theoretical model identifies three stages of KIBP improvement through BA and explains how they lead to a sustainable BA-enabled competitive differentiation. Stage 1 focusses on BA support for individual knowledge-intensive tasks, Stage 2 focusses on individual decision makers and their ability to gain KIBP-related analytical insights and turn them into action; and Stage 3 on sharing of the acquired experiential knowledge amongst decision makers using BA. Originality/value In addition to proposing a novel mechanism for BA value creation, this research demonstrates the importance of leveraging experiential knowledge of decision makers as a pathway to a more sustainable competitive differentiation through BA. This, in turn, creates new opportunities for knowledge management researchers to engage in BA-related research. It also opens a new approach for BA researchers to investigate BA value creation mechanisms through the lens of KBV, rather than more common resource-based or capability-based views.

Workspace transitions: conceptualizing and measuring person–space fit and examining its role in workplace outcomes and social network activity

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Bankins ◽  
Maria Tomprou ◽  
ByeongJo Kim
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Network Activity ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Perceived Fit ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Person Environment Fit ◽  
Growing Body

PurposeAlthough the physical environment provides an important context for employees' work, there remain divergent findings regarding how different spatial settings, such as more open or more closed workspaces, impact employees. Employing research on the functions of the physical work environment, we contribute to a growing body of research on employees' interactions with their workspace by developing and measuring the notion of person–space fit (P-S fit). This construct affords examination of the multi-dimensional nature of employees' interactions with their workspaces, to understand how their perceived fit with the key functions of their workspace impacts their experiences and social network activity at work.Design/methodology/approachWe first develop a new P-S fit scale and test its factorial, convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity over other person–environment fit concepts (N = 155). Next, in a naturally-occurring, quasi-field experiment of a workspace change intervention moving employees from predominantly closed workspace to more open workspace (N = 47 pre-move; N = 37 post-move), we examine how changes in both workspace layout and P-S fit impact workers' experiences of their workspaces (needs for task privacy and spaciousness) and collaborative behaviors (social network activity).FindingsOur P-S fit scale consists of theoretically and empirically validated dimensions representing fit with four workspace functions: aesthetic fit; identity fit; instrumental fit; and collaboration fit. Instrumental fit is positively associated with experiences of task privacy, whereas aesthetic fit and identity fit positively associated with experiences of spaciousness, but no forms of fit were related to social network activity. However, the findings show that work-related social network ties tended to decrease, and new ones were less likely to form, in open office spaces.Originality/valueContributing to a growing body of research linking person–environment fit literature to workspace design, this study offers a new scale assessing P-S fit and provides some empirical evidence of its importance for understanding the complexity of the employee-work environment interaction.

The emergence of deviant behaviors in the physical work environment

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 1012-1026
Author(s):  
Pablo Zoghbi-Manrique-de-Lara ◽  
Maryamsadat Sharifiatashgah
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Personal Space ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Conservation Of Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Deviant Behaviors ◽  
Privacy Invasion

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, the relationship between crowding perceptions (i.e. employees’ perceptions of insufficient personal space due to offices’ physical constraints) and deviant workplace behaviors (DWBs) directed at both the organization as a whole (DWB-O) and individuals (DWB-I); and second, privacy invasion from supervisors and peers as a mediator. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 299 respondents working in open-plan offices at four medium-to-large sized IT-based companies. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, the paper suggests that under crowding conditions employees can perceive the physical workspace as a space-related resource that is threatened leading them to engage in DWBs out of a conservation strategy. Findings Structural equation modeling results significantly supported main effects of employees’ crowding perceptions on the two types of DWBs, with privacy invasion from supervisors and peers as full mediator. Research limitations/implications The study could suffer from mono-method/source bias, and specificities of the studied IT-based companies and their work can raise concerns about the generalizability of the results. Practical implications The findings indicate that a proper physical office arrangement can be a useful tool for managers in combating employee DWB. Originality/value To date, the origin of workplace deviance has mainly been investigated in terms of the psychosocial work environment; however, the physical labor conditions (i.e. the layout of buildings, furniture, workspace, air conditioning, workplace density, etc.) have received little systematic attention.

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