July 28, 2004—UK-based Georgeson Office Interiors is set to launch a Web-based measurement tool intended to help companies to measure such intangibles as productivity and performance in relation to the office environment.
Using this approach, Georgeson says, organizations can prove that new concepts in office design do actually impact people, their processes and technology. The underlying principle is that the office environment can be viewed as a strategic tool used to improve the bottom line and provide confidence and financial justification to senior decision-makers.
Hosted by Georgeson, the measurement tool requires a brief initial set-up period to establish the key business drivers for the organization. Then a bespoke set of questions is created.
This questionnaire is e-mailed to employees and requires about ten minutes to fill in online. Once data is collected, Georgeson carries out the analysis. The company offers to provide practical recommendations to further increase the performance of the workspace.
“Gaining return on investment metrics has always been very difficult, but now with our measurement tool, it is possible,” explains MD Mark Spragg. “We are already collaborating with one of the world’s largest German banks, with a number of other companies showing interest.”
Georgeson’s measurement tool is 80% standardized. The remaining 20% allows it to be customized to individual companies, as each organization has different business priorities and work cultures, Spragg notes.
—Elliott Chase
Reprinted with permission; copyright 2004 i-FM
