GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE CENTER

SMART COMPRESSION: A REVOLUTION IN SPACE PLANNINGby Roy Abernathy Executive Vice President Global Workplace Strategy & Human Experience

with research update

by Adrianna Kowalczyk Market Research Analyst Global Knowledge Center

NEWMARK KNIGHT FRANK GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE CENTER: SMART COMPRESSION: A REVOLUTION IN SPACE PLANNING | 1

What if I told you that you had to do your job using only the technology from 20 years ago. No Google, no smartphones, no social media. Impossible, right?

Well, that is what we do when we only provide a one-sized-fits-all approach to space planning. Using the same processes and ideas from decades ago to support today’s workforce does not work - we need smarter tools, like Smart Compression.

Advancements in technology have revolutionized how we work. The days when an 8x8 space to house your paper files, bulky desk phone, and a large desktop computer that must be plugged into the wall are gone. These technologies have untethered us from the limitations of these spaces and unlocked a new world of dynamic workspaces. Smart Compression provides a framework for taking advantage of emerging trends while tailoring them to the unique needs of your organization.

Smart Compression is more than just space savings. It’s about getting the most out of a company’s second largest expense (real estate) by focusing on its largest expense (people). By examining the way people work you can tailor a work environment that fits the needs of the workforce while encouraging behaviors that align with your strategic goals (e.g. collaboration and innovation).

Three converging concepts drive Smart Compression:

1. Work from anywhere - In a world where all you need is a laptop and a cell phone to do most jobs the draw of the office environment is evolving. Determining who is in the office, and how often, can drive space needs.

2. More than one work style - To best support the needs of your organization it’s important to think through the needs of the different departments and teams and provide spaces that support the needs of the group and the individual.

3. Choice is king - Having a variety of “me” and “we” spaces for teams and individuals to choose from can help drive collaboration and support productivity.

A scientific and data-driven approach is key to providing the business intelligence necessary to make the right space decisions. Studying the behaviors of a workforce requires the right tools and expertise.

Below are proven methods that are three key to effective data collection:

1. An effectiveness and engagement survey gathers subjective workforce feedback.

2. An ethnography tool places an observer in the work environment to document and map behavior.

3. Visioning sessions and focus groups with leadership reveals their desired strategic direction.

Data collected through these methods inform programming, design, and location decisions. Introducing smart office technologies can also support the ways of working while providing valuable insights for future decisions. Some organizations undergo annual health checks to make sure they remain on-track.

This Smart Compression blog is only a brief introduction to a fresh, multi-faceted, and innovative approach to space management. For C-level executives facing important real estate decisions, Smart Compression is a significant advance in space management thinking, offering a clear-eyed, comprehensive evaluation of the workforce that informs real estate strategies tailored to the organization.

SMART COMPRESSION: A REVOLU-TION IN SPACE PLANNING

BY ROY ABERNATHYExecutive Vice President Global Workplace Strategy & Human Experience

NEWMARK KNIGHT FRANK GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE CENTER: SMART COMPRESSION: A REVOLUTION IN SPACE PLANNING | 2

There is a need to re-design offices to make them smart, future-proof and more productive. Smart Compression allows you to focus on the employees, by examining their behaviour at work and finding out their unique needs. Roy Abernathy, Executive Vice President, Global Workplace Strategy & Human Experience writes: “Smart Compression is more than just space savings. It’s about getting the most out of a company’s second largest expense (real estate) by focusing on its largest expense (people).”1

Improve communication

between the teams Optimize

services

Optimize your energy use

Increase ROI of your real

estate

Exhibit 1: Benefits of Smart Compression:

Source: Global Knowledge Center Research

A Vodafone study from 2016 shows that 75% of employees globally use technology to aid flexible working practices, such as using smartphones or tablets to work from home or on the move.

Increase employee satisfaction

Exhibit 2: With the use of technology on the job:

61% of respondents claimed that company profitability went up

83% of respondents accounted for an increase in productivity

RESEARCH UPDATE

BY ADRIANNA KOWALCZYKMarket Research Analyst, Global Knowledge Center

NEWMARK KNIGHT FRANK GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE CENTER: SMART COMPRESSION: A REVOLUTION IN SPACE PLANNING | 3

“According to Harvard Business Review, we have entered a new era, leaving behind the knowledge worker to be replaced by AI and machine learning. We now embark on what is known as the “Human Economy”. In this time companies will learn that focusing on human beings and their overall experience at work will help them in their attraction and retention strategies. Technology has enabled companies to focus on the human experience and given us the ability to use space like we never have before.”

– Regan Donoghue, Regional Workplace Manager, NKF.

A modern office, equipped with technology to promote collaborative work as well as ergonomic design can create a healthier and more productive environment for employees. A study from Saracen Interiors found that adjustable workstations such as moveable desks can help prevent absenteeism caused by back and joint pain.3

Source: Vodafone (2016). Flexible: Friend or Foe? Survey by Vodafone. February 8, 2016.

58% of employees were of the opinion that flexible working policies had a positive impact on their company’s reputation 2

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Roy Abernathy, Smart Compression: A Revolution in Space Planning (2018). Available at: http://www.ngkfgcs.com/Blog/April-2018/Smart-Compression-A-Revolution-in-Space-Planning

2. Vodafone (2016). Flexible: Friend or Foe? Survey by Vodafone. February 8, 2016. Available at: https://www.vodafone.com/content/index/media/vodafone-group-releases/2016/flexible-working-survey.html#. [Accessed: November 20, 2018].

3. Saracen Interiors (2018). 43% of Office Workers Reject Job Offers Due to Uninspiring Offices November 13, 2018. Available at: https://www.saraceninteriors.com/blog/modern-offices-and-recruitment/. [Accessed: November 21, 2018].

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