Week 5 - The Wellbeing of People

Steelcase’s article “Driving the Wellbeing of People” tackles the challenge of helping people feel, work, and think better in the workplace. Many factors can encourage this positive change in the workplace, but the primary factor is technology. There have been so many updates in technology that it seems as though the average workplace can’t keep up, contributing to a feeling of discontentment. The inclusion of updated technology in the workplace will transform spaces from where you have to work to where you love to work.

Choice of where and how you would like to work

In the past, getting work done was a lot easier due to the fact that computers were not mobile, so workers would stay at their desks and have easy access to everyone else. Today, because of laptops and mobile phones, employees can choose both where and how they would like to work. While this development is freeing and better for sharing information, it is also harder to find the people you need and it makes scheduling meetings more difficult than they had been before.

Updated technology leads to better collaboration

Taking these factors into consideration, Steelcase begins to ask questions and give possible solutions to “drive the wellbeing of people” in the workplace. For example, what if there was an application on your phone that you check into in order to see who is at work that day? What if you were able to immediately know which conference rooms were occupied and which were not? What if those conference rooms could alert the users to let them know that their reservation is almost over? What if, if you went over your reserved time, the conference room could alert your teammates that you would be late? With these updates to workplace technology, employees could better focus their time and efforts, 

creating a better work experience for individuals and teams.

Mobile outlets are convenient for patients

I believe this focus on technological advancements incorporates well into the design of the NEXT reception space. NEXT specifically mentions baby boomers as well as millennials, both of whom need special considerations regarding technology in the reception area. Both generations are comforted by information via television screens, and both should be able to use technology of their own comfortably while they are waiting. Millennials specifically desire additional technology, such as the option to check in digitally from a provided tablet or something of that nature.

The reception area should take much more into consideration than just the technological aspects, however. When patients first walk through the door, what is the first thing they see or feel? This is an excellent opportunity for brand identity to come into play. Usually, patients see the logo first, the color scheme, et cetera, so the company (NEXT) should provide a welcoming space for patients of all ages. Not only should these spaces respond to patients using their laptops or phones while waiting, but they also need to respond to how the patient would like to wait or how large a group the patient has brought with them. Since the reception space is the first impression of the company, it is important that a strong focus is placed on the design of these spaces.