I predict that the efficient utilization of real estate, resources, and energy will be a critical business focus during 2012. To arrive at astute, accurate financial decisions, management teams will focus on increasing data acquisition so they can analyze workspace utilization trends down to a finite level.
Thanks to industry developments, we now have a wide range of lighting systems at our fingertips. In particular, the tiny size of systems such as LEDs and OLEDs allow the designer to put light wherever it is really needed and simply leave it out where it is unnecessary.
From a technical and design standpoint, the widespread introduction of LEDs into office settings provides long-awaited alternatives to standard fluorescent and incandescent lights.
As we search for both efficiency and effectiveness opportunities, we can look at both "demand" -- in truly understanding what people need to do their work -- and "supply" savings in the way space and furniture are planned and managed over time.
Today, there are entire businesses focused on making your business more productive by rearranging and remodeling office spaces so that workers can become more productive and energetic.
We need to challenge our expectations of the home office if we are designing a space with collaboration in mind. This is a modern business approach, so my choices will have a contemporary feel.
We take a look at some of the apps available for collaborating in the workplace, whether you are creating an environment for your client or working everyday with your team.
Conflict management is a fundamental part of our professional environments and color affects our psyche tremendously. Clash in a work environment is bound to happen—different people, backgrounds, and ideas on how to do things.
The ultimate goal of a workspace design is to make the space not only functional, but aesthetically pleasing as well. Effective use of form and function promote employee health and happiness, which in turn promotes productivity.
Although a neat and organized workspace is a challenge in today's busy world, maintaining an organized and productive space is well worth the undertaking. It very well makes up in terms of time saved, morale and productivity boost and improved service delivery.
Organizing a work space goes way back to the industrial revolution when managers were trying to find out how to make their workers more productive. Initially, the goal was to reduce injuries, but over the years we've learned that carefullyorganizing your work space can improve productivity (Resnick and Zanotti, 1998).
