CIO OPINION
Considering the office as a hub of connection and collaboration
Despite many workplace specialists ’ beliefs that the main purpose of the future office is to be a hub of collaboration , Leeman ’ s findings indicate that the office is becoming more important as a hub of connection , with connection-based activities showing the highest increase in importance over any other work activity . most important working activity according to Leesman ’ s survey results , regardless of respondent role , age and gender , with an 80 – 90 % importance rating .
So , for CIOs who want employees to spend more time working in the office , one of the most fundamental requirements is to support individually focused deskbased work – both in the office and wherever hybrid work gets done .
The office has become a centralised area to connect with colleagues and co-workers , not necessarily on specific tasks or problems in pre-arranged ( and large group ) formal meetings , but to engage in ‘ informal social interaction ’ and ‘ informal , unplanned meetings ’.
The office is a space where employees increasingly want to go to develop relationships and get a deeper sense of community , and more informal spaces to socialise would better support that .
It ’ s important to note that workers are satisfied with the effectiveness of home-based collaboration and are more satisfied with hybrid-based collaboration than office only . This may be due to the effectiveness of technologies such as online meetings and messaging for collaboration .
Maintaining support for ‘ individual focused , desk-based work ’
Both prior to and during the COVID disruption , ‘ individual focused , desk-based work ’ remained the
There is also a difference in attitude between office workers and hybrid workers on fixed computing equipment , with more office workers than hybrid workers selecting this IT feature as important ( 37 %). As for mobile computing , more hybrid workers than office workers find this IT feature important ( 70 %).
Delivering smaller offices and increased workplace mobility
Mobility has also become one of the most desired factors for employees in today ’ s work environment –
It ’ s important to note that workers are satisfied with the effectiveness of home-based collaboration and are more satisfied with hybrid-based collaboration than office only .
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