Emerald | Facilities

The problem of addressing culture in workplace strategies

Daphne Marian Heeroma, Frans W. Melissen, Marc Benjamin Stierand — 2012-02-07 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - Purpose – This conceptual paper explores the problems associated with trying to address culture as one of the key aspects in effective workplace strategies.Design/methodology/approach - Design/methodology/approach – This paper critically addresses the relationship between workplace strategies and the behavioural components of locality. It reviews the role that the concept of culture has, so far, played in trying to predict these behavioural consequences as part of (literature discussing) efforts to design appropriate workplace strategies.Findings - Findings – The discussion reveals the need to further address this relation through dedicated research. What’s more, it is argued that there is a clear need to explicitly focus on work patterns, and how these can be accounted for in workplace strategies, instead of continuing to focus on the concept of culture as a predictor for successfulness. It is argued that the latter does not allow for practical application, whereas the former could help us to better understand and predict the effectiveness of specific workplace strategies in specific (local) circumstances.Practical implications - Practical implications – The outcome of the discussion suggests that organisations consisting of multiple locations could benefit from explicitly accounting for (local) work patterns in setting up workplace strategies for the organisation as a whole.Originality/value - Originality/value – This paper reveals a relevant research gap in current literature on workplace strategies and suggests a shift in focus from culture to work patterns as one of the key aspects to address.

Understanding the impact of generational issues in the workplace

Michael Pitt, James Bennett, Samantha Price — 2012-02-07 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - Now there are four generations of people sharing the workspace, each group brings different views, expectations, desires, dreams, values and ideas about work and life. This paper will examine how four generations work together in different ways and explores organisational strategies for managing the transition of knowledge through the generations. The factors of team working, mentoring and the design of the physical and virtual workplace are considered. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is an examination of the worklace using a literature review. The content reviewed explores the characteristics of each generation, their cultural values and identity and the method to incorporate this into strategy, workplace design workplace productivity. Findings - The results of the paper demonstrate that it is vital for organisations to actively facilitate the transition of knowledge which is currently taking place within the multi-generational workplace. The findings demonstrate that the changing pattern of work and life dictate that organisations have to adapt its culture to meet the demands and expectations of a new generations in the workplace.Research limitations/implications - The paper does not look at workplace scenarios as a possible method of testing the theories suggested.Practical implications - By understanding the make up of the workforces facilities can be adapted to take advantage of employee characteristics which may lead to productivity improvement.Originality/value - The link between the transition of knowledge and the manage and design of facility space is made. Embracing workplace styles of flexible work locations, informal and fluid use of space, space for mentoring and team work, fun, open collaborative spaces, plug and play technological environments and non-hierarchical organisational structures are just a few of the strategies which will have to be implemented in order to attract and retain high performance individuals.

Speech as a way of constructing change in space

Kaisa Airo, Heidi Rasila, Suvi Nenonen — 2012-02-07 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - This article presents a model of employees’ rhetorical patterns, which take place during a workplace change. Design/methodology/approach - The method of discourse analysis is used to investigate employees’ perceptions of and dispositions to the change. 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted in two organizations before and after moving to the open plan offices. Findings - People tend to frame the change in space by either opposing or conforming ways of making sense. Opposing discourses include rhetorical strategies of a) social community versus own responsibility b)believing in hidden agenda of management and c) distancing one self. Conforming discourses include a) social community versus individual opinion b) including oneself and c) trusting the professionals. Additionally it was found, that employees tend to be ambiguous with their messages, while interviewed during a workplace change process. Originality/value - The methodology of discourse analysis is rarely used in facilities management research and is thus a method to be considered in future studies of FM.

A user pre-occupancy evaluation method for facilitating the designer-client communication

WEILIN SHEN, Qiping SHEN, Xiaoling Zhang — 2012-02-07 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - This paper introduces a Building Information Model (BIM)-based User Pre-occupancy Evaluation Method (UPOEM), which is applied in architectural design stage to narrow the gap between inexperienced clients and designers. It aims to improve the communication efficiency.Design/methodology/approach - The literature review studied the related technologies applied in the UPOEM, which includes building information modeling, user activity scheduling, and requirements documentation method. Based on the building information model, a virtual environment involving the end users’ daily activities was built up. In this virtual environment, the clients can observe how their organization will be accommodated in the built environment according to their daily work routines. A requirements and feedback interface was designed to facilitate the clients to conduct a pre-occupancy evaluation and store the relevant information into the database. Findings - In briefing and design stages, there is a considerable gap between the inexperienced clients and designers when the clients specifying requirements and reviewing the design solutions. In the UPOEM, The user activity simulation model can facilitate clients to obtain a better understanding of the design. The requirements and feedback interface can also help them specify requirements and give comments to the design. Thus it provided an alternative tool to improve the efficiency of the designer-client communication.Research limitations/implications - This research established a virtual platform which involves both building information and the user activity information. This platform can be further extended by the integration of more building performance simulation tools. Thus it provided a potential to bring the traditional post occupancy evaluation process to the pre-construction stage.Practical implications - The implementation of this method in practice can improve the efficiency of the designer-client communication, and also maximize the clients’ satisfaction during the requirements specification and design review process.Originality/value - The user activity simulation and requirements management methods are innovatively applied together to enhance the clients’ performance during designer-client communication.

A multi-phase systematic framework for performance appraisal of architectural design studio facilities

Mohammad A. Hassanain, Mohammed Alhaji Mohammed, Murat Cetin — 2012-02-07 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - The objectives of this paper are to present the development of an indicative multi-phase systematic framework for performance appraisal of architectural design studio facilities; and the findings of the post-occupancy conditions of one of the architectural design studio facilities as a case study to demonstrate the applicability of the developed framework. Design/methodology/approach - The authors have carried out a number of activities. These include reviewing the published literature to address the significance of architectural design studio as a resource for students majoring in architectural design; ascertain the significance of post-occupancy evaluation as a performance appraisal methodology in educational facilities. Upon the development of the proposed framework, the authors carried out a case study in one of the studios of the Architecture Department at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The authors utilized a series of data collection methods including; photographic documentation, observations through walkthrough inspection, questionnaires and interviews.Findings - The developed framework consists of four phases. It entails (1) identifying the performance requirements of the architectural design studio, (2) collecting data - through conducting walkthrough inspection, questionnaire survey and interviews - to ascertain the present performance level of the architectural design studio, (3) analyzing the data gathered from the preceding steps and subsequent reporting of findings on the degree of user satisfaction with the architectural design studio space and facilities, (4) developing a plan of actions in the form of recommendations to improve the conditions of the evaluated design studio. The case study served as a validation to the developed performance appraisal framework.Originality/value - The architectural design studio is known to be the place where students majoring in architectural design would generate, review and display their design projects. Previous research on performance appraisal of educational facilities indicates that comfort of architectural design studio space is a significant aspect to be considered and maintained for the success of the architectural education process. The paper provides a systematic approach for evaluating the major performance requirements of architectural design studio. It is of practical value to space planners, design professionals, facility managers and administrators involved in the planning, design, operation and management of such facilities.