Our gratitude
Our successful Chicago symposium couldn't have happened without the support of several organizations and individuals. We'd like to thank: our sponsors -- Haworth and SMART Technologies Inc. ; Our host -- Jones Lang LaSalle; and our remote meeting platform provide -- Cisco WebEx. In addition, we'd like to recognize the following individuals: Terri Griffith, whose paper generated ideas and conversation; Sara Adams of JLL who coordinated the many details for hosting the event; and Cisco's Stasia Vanasek, who managed the remote end of our conference.
This week's featured study: Hot-desking builds organizational identity
Many thanks to Jay Brand who sent us a study showing a relationship between assigned and unassigned office seating and employee's identification with their team and organization. He labeled it an "interesting study suggesting that with hot-desking (as opposed to assigned workspaces/desks), team identity shifts more toward organizational identity (and vice versa)."
Researchers investigated the question of whether physical dislocation from an organization undermines feelings of organizational identification and belonging. They found that physical factors (e.g., collocation, interpersonal contact and interaction) are not necessary for the formation of identification-based attachments. Desk assignment was a powerful predictor of team identity. Those with no desk assignment (hot-deskers) had higher organizational identify. "Contrary to popular assumption, externalising strategies like hot desking do not necessarily marginalize or alienate employees," they wrote. "Being spatially dispersed did not alienate employees; on the contrary, it simply changed the primary focus of identification by engaging the--through the medium of electronic communication--more strongly with the organization than with the team."
http://www.newwow.net/members/node/1263
Members suggest:
- Kate North alerted us to proposed US legislation that would provide employers a tax credit for purchasing equipment for teleworkers. Kate writes: "This is a new approach for telework legislation. Most others have been directed toward Federal workers. This bill provides cash incentives to employers for the purchase of equipment for telework." http://www.newwow.net/members/node/615#comment-848
Hal Levin forwarded a call for papers from the Journal of Industrial Ecology. The Journal is planning a special issue on Environmental Applications of Information and Communications Technology. Potential topics include: enterprise information systems that integrate environmental data with core business work flow and supply chain systems; new developments in telecommuting; and teleconferencing and environmental auditing, reporting, and verification enabled through ICT. http://www.newwow.net/members/node/1264
Pandemic updates
Three articles this week focus on the issue of pandemic preparation:
- Influenza pandemic alert raised to phase 6
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the level of pandemic preparedness from phase 5 to phase 6 (the highest level). We discuss what this alert level means and provide resources for learning more about recommended actions.
http://www.newwow.net/members/node/75#comment-850
- Recommendations from business continuity experts Many organizations tied their pandemic planning to the WHO's escalation steps. Now that the highest level has been reached, some are unsure about what to do next. Continuity Central, a website that tracks business continuity news and information, asked several business continuity experts their recommendations in light of the stepped-up level.
http://www.newwow.net/members/comment/edit/851
- Survey: Many employers unprepared for pandemic people issues Two out of five employers have no human resources policy in place for health-related emergencies, according to a new survey. Employers are responding in many ways including restricting or canceling business travel and allowing employees to work at home.
http://www.newwow.net/members/node/75#comment-852
The cross-pollination of hotel & workplace design
We summarize an article featured in RFP magazine last month. IDEO's Fred Dust and Patrice Martin suggest that workplace designers should study the hospitality industry. If you observe a hotel lobby or a busy cafe, you'll notice that “These spaces aren't quiet, they aren't production focused, and they seem impossibly inefficient, yet great thinking is happening here." The authors suggest three design principles for bringing more hospitality into the workplace. http://www.newwow.net/members/node/1265
Virginia Gov Orders Statewide Telework Day
Last week, Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine issued an executive order requiring the State to institute a number of eco-friendly, energy-efficient measures designed to reduce energy use. He decreed August 3 to be "Statewide Telework Day."
http://www.newwow.net/members/node/474#comment-849
