Collaborative Space Plays an Important Role in Boosting Productivity and Motivation within a Business, Find the Edge Expert Says in New Article
Manchester (PRWEB UK) 10 July 2013 -- The places in which an organisation's employees work and mingle can have a huge influence on how productive and effective that business is, Paul Corney has said in a new Find the Edge article.
He uses a post on the business site to discuss a report he has authored that looks into the effects the workspace environment has on employees, called 'When Space Matters'.
For the research, Corney interviewed a selection of business leaders, who provide examples of the role of space in their organisations and experience. He also discusses how seemingly inconsequential changes can have disproportionate impacts.
Corney quotes a leader who said: "In Aberdeen, free lunches were stopped as part of a cost-cutting drive in the early 90’s. The result? Packed lunches. People stayed at their desks. All day.
"Had anyone offered to the business unit leader that for a mere £3 per day he could significantly raise the level of collaboration, networking and sharing, and also deliver a resulting increase in motivation and productivity, he would have bitten their hand off!"
Corney also discusses whether a real workplace can ever be replaced by a virtual one in the report.
His research found a split in opinion. One leader said: "Just a few minutes ago, I finished a Webex session with the UN, which had me allocating 30 participants to breakout 'rooms' that contained materials and videos. I was able to visit each room momentarily to check in on progress, spot people raising their hands, share back the outputs on a group whiteboard.
"I would go as far as to say that it was even more productive than the equivalent physical workspace."
Less positively for virtual spaces, another leader had this to say: "I have access to a range of collaboration tools to facilitate virtual working, and you can deliver using them, but nothing beats getting folks together face to face to build relationships and to accelerate delivery."
The article can be viewed in full here: http://www.findtheedge.co.uk/innovation/business-intelligence/when-space-matters-the-opinions-of-thought-leaders-and-practitioners.
Paul Corney is a knowledge management practitioner, and business coach, with almost 40 years of experience in various sectors. More about him can be found here: http://www.findtheedge.co.uk/expert-panelist/paul-corney.
Kenny Goodman, founder of Find the Edge, said: "Paul's research highlights the need to consider space in any business.
"The smallest change can make a huge difference, and have an important influence on productivity and motivation levels within an organisation."
Find the Edge is a business website where some of the brightest business minds in the UK share the expert knowledge and insight they have picked up over their careers, free of charge.
Kenny Goodman, Find the Edge, http://www.FindTheEdge.co.uk, 07540 368 439 0161 713 2506, [email protected]
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