WORK, WORKERS AND WORKPLACE (BOOK REVIEW)
On average, we humans spend at least 8 hours working to earn our livelihood. Thus, one expects their workplace to be one that they can find comfort in, and feel at home in. The surrounding a person is indirect affects his mind, and in turn, affects productivity. Here is where technology comes into play. It allows people to work out of the comfort of their own homes or meet deadlines and manage conference calls all while enjoying a nice cup of coffee at Starbucks. Workplace now need not be a mere physical space anymore; instead, it’s a mixture of physical and digital elements. This mixture is the key to more productivity and has the potential to be the birthplace of new ideas. The radically changing nature of Work, Workers & Workplaces – Using space as a starting point of innovation, a book written by Parthajeet Sarma explores the dynamics of all the above-mentioned aspects and its connection to the human mind and relation to a person’s productivity.
Each workplace today, requires a different design – workers and work ethos also contribute as factors. The book talks about using space to innovate in the office. Parthajeet also mentions how technology could be the integrator and must not be applied blindly.
The author clearly tries to draw a line between the traditional concept of Home and Workplace, though the distinction often becomes blurred and in fact at times overlaps. While traditionalists would argue that Home is a quintessential peaceful place that fosters bonding and a spirit of camaraderie among family members through familiar coexistence which can be either through the nature of human beings inhabiting the place or the head of the family establishing it as he deems fit. However, they will do well to remember that the Workplace, unlike Home, is governed by entirely different sets of rules and the objective primarily is enhanced productivity which is often the output arising out of different kinds of coworkers working seamlessly towards a common goal.
The author has distinctly brought out the role of office space in the enhancement of human productivity. While HR has a definite role to play, the scale is clearly tilted towards workspace integration designed to bring out the best in the individual’s thinking ability and creativity.
With technology reaching new levels every day, people are brought together and connected so easily that a workplace can be created anywhere at any time, without the traditional 4 walled room setup. Parthajeet has demonstrated through various tangible experiments the effects of such a workplace on the productivity of the individual and the organizations. He stresses upon the technology playing a very concrete role in deciding the design and space utilization of a modern workplace.
With this, I would like to extend my gratitude to Parthajeet Sarma in inspiring the students of IVS School of Design in guiding them by introducing his book to the students. This book shall serve well to the students in understanding the ever-changing nuances of designing future workplaces.
Arpita R Ranjan
Head of Department
IVS School of Design