The Full Spectrum Workplace

Workplace Provocateur, Dr. Agustin Chevez, shares a new approach to structuring where and when we work.

What’s the Optimal Workplace for your Organization?

That’s a question many of us are still pondering in the aftermath of the pandemic. It’s also the title of a paper by Harvard Business School researchers offering a framework for organisations to align their strategic needs with their working environment.

The framework is based on what the authors consider to be two key organisational features: size and growth orientation. If the organisation is small, their recommended workplace is either coworking or fully remote depending on whether the organisation’s growth orientation is driven by creativity (bringing people together) or execution (undisturbed efficiency). On the other hand, if the organisation is large, they suggest an office/campus or hybrid with flexible space, depending on their growth orientation.

The framework is based on robust research and revolves around a nuanced approach of when to be together and when to be apart.

So, what’s there to improve? The actual workplace.