Boosting productivity through a tech-enabled workspace

New technologies, especially mobile technology, have reshaped workplace culture around the world.According to the Steelcase Global Workplace study, access to these technologies contributes to employee engagement and satisfaction. It provides workers with the ability to move around the spaces that fit the task. Additionally, the use of office furniture integrated with ergonomic technology is also playing a vital role in enhancing productivity.

Flexible seating solutions

While technology boosts productivity, it can hamper health too. Long hours in a chair facing a screen can cause damage to the eyes. It can also lead to development of an unhealthy posture.

Hence, smart ergonomic office furniture that is technology-designed to support the digitally-integrated work environment should be introduced in workspaces.

Remote working devices

With a mobile/ nomadic workforce now working in tandem with the resident workforce, new age offices need to adopt workspace technology that engages both sets of workers. Organisations should therefore effectively discourage the use of fixed technology like landlines and desktop computers and replace them with appropriate smart technology that can be used by both sets of employees.

Sharing in real time

While each new technology offers distinct advantages, simply acquiring a technology without considering its spatial and behavioural impacts is a formula for failure.

The idea should not only be connecting with each other via a video conferencing but also sharing a physical space with each other for a quick and spontaneous interaction. Installation of devices at the workplace that enables offices in different countries to work in perfect synchronicity through a virtual connect helps distributed teams work together in the areas of problem-solving, task coordination, evaluation and learning. Creating “I” and “We” spaces. Many companies now lay emphasis on open spaces. Though such spaces facilitate collaboration, they fail to offer privacy which is essential for confidential discussions and quiet phone calls. A good approach is ensuring a mix of (enclosed) “I” spaces and (shared) “We” spaces.According to the Steelcase study, in India, individual and shared private offices are more common than open plan workspaces or nomadic work.

Source | The Hindu | 10 August 2016

** All my posts are dedicated to Sir Dr. S R Ranganathan on occasion of his 125^th Birth Anniversary

Regards

Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library

Khaitan & Co

Blog | http://pralhad-fyilibrarian.blogspot.in/

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