Article

Coworking spaces: a new way of achieving productivity

Authors:
To read the full-text of this research, you can request a copy directly from the authors.

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to explore the relationship between coworking spaces and productivity. Design/methodology/approach A research model was designed to carry out the analysis. Specifically, this model attempts to reveal the influence of social interactions and the coworking environment on productivity. Furthermore, three moderated variables were incorporated into the model: gender, age and level of education. A Web-based survey was conducted. Findings The findings confirm the positive influence of social interactions and coworking environment on productivity. Research limitations/implications There are two limitations. First, it is based on the perception of coworkers. It would be interesting to add the perception of coworking space managers to provide more solid findings. The second limitation is that it has not suggested any additional potential factors which could affect productivity. Practical implications Implications of this study are grouped into two categories. First, from an academic perspective, it contributes to the development of knowledge about the increasing use of coworking spaces. Second, from a managerial perspective, this paper highlights how environmental factors and the facilities of a workplace can help to achieve better conditions for productivity, in particular in coworking spaces. Social implications Furthermore, the use of social interactions in professional relationships can be understood as an alternative way to carry out new ways of doing business. Originality/value This paper contributes to the enrichment of knowledge-concerning coworking spaces developed a pioneering study.

No full-text available

Request Full-text Paper PDF

To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.

... The strong focus on efficiency makes sense because if coworking members cannot sustain their business financially, it does not matter if their carbon footprint is zero, or if they thrive socially, as their business will have a difficult time to exist for a long time, making it an unsustainable alternative. From the coworking literature, it is evident that many members work in a coworking space to increase their level of productivity (Bueno et al., 2018;Orel, 2019b) and to gain a competitive advantage to reach individual or the organization's goals or objectives. With respect to the coworking context, we thereby consider "productive behaviors" as a more suitable construct than self-care (as proposed in the sustainable behavior theory), considering that this is the reason for working, as in the word "coworking" itself. ...
... The main source of empirical data came from 30 interviews with coworking members of the studied coworking spaces to understand how they perceive sustainable behavior. Interviews are especially attractive since they provide flexibility and enable the researcher to receive an in-depth understanding of the subject from the interviewee's perspective (Bryman and Bell, 2011). The participants consisted of a wide range of selfemployed individuals and employees of both smaller and larger companies who have been members for 1 month and up to four years. ...
... Observations. Next to interviews, observations were held, which allowed us to directly observe behavior instead of only having an inferred explanation of the behavior (Bryman and Bell, 2011). This helped us interpret the interview results better and enabled us to see if the intentions mentioned in the interviews occurred in reality. ...
Article
Purpose Sustainability is regarded as a core value that the coworking movement aspires to. However, most sustainability efforts focus on the providers’ perspective while neglecting the coworking members’ role. Therefore, this paper aims to explore sustainable coworking from the members perspective by focusing on sustainable behaviors. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a flexible pattern matching approach. Theoretical patterns are identified using literature on coworking space and sustainable behavior while matching them with the empirical data. Data were collected from three different coworking spaces in Sweden through interviews and observations. Findings Based on the theoretical patterns, three constructs for sustainable coworking were identified, namely, productive behavior, prosocial behavior and responsible space sharing behavior. Through the empirical data, the constructs were further concretized to understand their different aspects. The findings uncovered a new layer of complexity where members can show the same behavior and be perceived differently. Originality/value This study offers a more holistic understanding of sustainable coworking by highlighting the members’ role and identifying different member perceptions on sustainable coworking behaviors.
... In the text references, either productivity, work performance satisfaction, or daily sustainable work performance, were considered as proxy measures of productivity [33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. Productivity was positively associated with social support/interactions [35,38,39] and negatively associated with lack of visage to face contact with colleagues [34]. ...
... In the text references, either productivity, work performance satisfaction, or daily sustainable work performance, were considered as proxy measures of productivity [33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. Productivity was positively associated with social support/interactions [35,38,39] and negatively associated with lack of visage to face contact with colleagues [34]. Some articles in the review, linked productivity to physical aspects of the coworking space, open architecture, and workstation flexibility which facilitated social interaction between users [36,37,40,41]. ...
... Two physical factors were associated with reduced productivity: inadequate ICT infrastructure, and the opening times of the CWS (i.e., CWS not opening until late in the morning) [34]. Overall, the CWS environment was reported as having a positive impact on productivity [33,35]. ...
Article
Background: Utilisation of coworking spaces (CWS) was rising sharply prior to the COVID 19 pandemic. The transition to new work arrangements which involve a hybrid, work and home model, is likely to involve the use of alternative workspaces. Understanding the impacts of CWS on employees is timely to examine the benefits of utilisation and how these might be incorporated into new ways of working. This scoping review aims to explore the relationship between CWS, mental and physical health, and workers' performance, and provide insights into future considerations for design. Objective: The main objective was to map the current literature on CWS, focusing on identification of relevant modifiable factors to improve worker's mental and physical health, and performance. Method: Three databases, Embase, PsycInfo, and Proquest, were systematically reviewed, to identify studies from 2005 onwards. Data was extracted and analysed using diagrammatic mapping. Only studies published in English were included. Results: Eleven relevant papers were included which covered the three outcomes of interest, worker's performance (5), mental health (4) and physical health (2). Environmental factors influencing the three outcomes were categorised into physical environment (12 factors) and the psychosocial environment (6 factors). Overall, CWS environmental factors had a positive influence on workers (23 positive relationships and 11 negative relationships). Conclusion: Coworking spaces offer potential benefits for tele-workers, including opportunities for collaboration/networking and productivity gains. However, attention to the CWS physical design is important to optimise the experience for workers and mitigate risk of adverse mental and physical health effects.
... A common denominator is the focus on the shared physical space (Bilandzic and Foth, 2013;Parrino, 2015;Gauger et al., 2021;Kraus et al., 2022). The spaces are characterized as flexible, open-plan office environments (Spinuzzi, 2012), and its users are described as unaffiliated (Spinuzzi, 2012), location independent (Bueno et al., 2018), knowledge professionals and entrepreneurs (Kraus et al., 2022). In later work, next to the physical shared space, social connectivity also becomes relevant (Orel and Bennis, 2021;Kraus et al., 2022). ...
... Gandini, 2015;Brown, 2017), productive work environment (e.g. Spinuzzi, 2012;Bueno et al., 2018;Robelski et al., 2019;Grazian, 2020;Bouncken et al., 2021), access to network (e.g. van Dijk, 2019), professional work environment (e.g. ...
Article
Purpose This paper aims to identify and prioritize the needs of coworking members. The authors focus on maintaining the existing members rather than attracting new ones. Design/methodology/approach The authors use two phases and multiple methods. The first phase focuses on a qualitative approach using observations and interviews to uncover and formulate the members’ needs. The second phase focuses on prioritizing the needs using a quantitative approach. Findings The authors discovered 19 member needs from the coworking spaces. Based on an online survey, the authors classified those needs into three main Kano model’s categories. Originality/value The resulting member needs and their strategic priorities provide a useful basis for coworking providers to direct their improvement efforts towards achieving greater member satisfaction.
... Lebensbereichen (insb. Familie und Freizeit) und kann somit zur Erhöhung der individuellen Produktivität (Bueno et al. 2018) und Work-Life-Balance (Orel 2019) beitragen. ...
... ). Meist handelt es sich bei den Nutzern dieser Räume um eine Mischung aus Freelancer*innen, Kleinstunternehmern oder Start-ups, wobei Freelancer*innen in den Bereichen Software, Marketing und PR, Consulting sowie Journalismus den Großteil der Bisherige Studien zu Coworking deuten dabei auf gewisse Formen der sozialen Einbettung hin, die sich in diesen räumlich-organisationalen Kontexten(Trettin und Welter 2011;Stam und Welter 2020) und den damit verbundenen Communitys (Marquis 2011) ergeben und die Produktivität, Arbeitszufriedenheit oder Work-Life-Balance der darin arbeitenden Personen erhöhen können(Bueno et al. 2018;Orel 2019; Bouncken et al. 2022). Folgende Einbettungsformen können sich aus der Nutzung von Coworking Spaces für Freelancer*innen ergeben:• Herstellung eines Gefühls von Zugehörigkeit ("sense of community") (z. ...
Book
Die Studie befasst sich mit den sozialen Netzwerkbeziehungen von Freelancer*innen im Kontext von Coworking Spaces als flexibel nutzbare Büro- und Arbeitsräumlichkeiten. Dabei wird insbesondere auf die Bedeutung dieses Kontexts in Bezug auf die Beziehungs- und Netzwerkbildung eingegangen und gezeigt, wie die Nutzung eines Arbeitsplatzes in diesem zur organisationalen Einbettung im Freelancing beitragen kann. Dazu greift die Arbeit auf Methoden der egozentrierten Netzwerkanalyse in Kombination mit qualitativen Interviews zurück. Anhand von persönlichen Freelancer*innen-Netzwerken, biografischen und sozial-räumlichen Hintergründen werden verschiedene Beziehungsinhalte und -konstellationen deutlich gemacht, die sich aus der Arbeit im Coworking Space ergeben können. Die Studie trägt damit zum Verständnis von Coworking Spaces für unternehmerische Prozesse im Freelancing bei und verweist auf die Relevanz von sozial-räumlicher Kontextualisierung.
... Consequently, work is becoming less dependent on space, location, and time (Bueno et al., 2018). In this context, some definitions are described below. ...
... The term teleworking refers to employees who work from locations remote from their main offices or production facilities while being able to communicate via ICT with their co-workers (Bueno et al., 2018). According to Herrera et al. (2022, p. 1), "Telework is a form of organising and/or performing work, using information technology, in the context of an employment contract/relationship, where work, which could also be performed at the employer's premises, is carried out away from those premises on a regular basis". ...
Research Proposal
The purpose of this study is to ascertain whether the emergence of hybrid working and changes in the workplace after the covid-19 pandemic have altered the relationship between office type and employee productivity.
... In coworking spaces, coworkers, such as freelancers, entrepreneurs, and independent professionals, can share knowledge, exchange ideas, build communities, cooperation, and have horizontal interaction with others (Akhavan, Mariotti, and Canevari, 2019). A model was designed by Bueno, Rodriguez-Balatnas, and Gallego (2018) to show the impact of the coworking environment and social interactions on coworkers' job productivity. They moderated this relationship with three demographic variables (age, gender, level of education) and found a positive signifi cant infl uence of social interactions and the coworking environment on productivity. ...
... In line with the previous fi ndings of Bueno, Rodriguez-Balatnas, and Gallego (2018), this study also found a positive signifi cant relationship between coworking space environment, social interactions, and job productivity -as shown in Table 3 -at the p < 0.01 signifi cance level (2-tailed). ...
Article
Full-text available
A coworking space is a setup of bringing together independent professionals who do not work for the same company. This study aims to determine the impact of the coworking space environment and of social interactions on the job productivity of coworkers, as well as the influence of social interactions in the relation of coworking space environment and job productivity. A positive significant relationship was found between the coworking space environment and job productivity as well as between social interactions and job productivity. Moreover, the moderating variable “social interactions” strengthens the relationship between coworking environment and job productivity. The findings of the study highlight the importance of coworking spaces as a source of social interactions among freelancers and entrepreneurs. Furthermore, human resource managers and corporate office managers can use this study to help their staff operate in a more flexible and productive setting.
... Berg, P. and Arentze, T. (2019). Employees' preferences for services and facilities offered in serviced offices.Clifton, N., Fuzi, A., and Loudon, G. (2019). Coworking in the Digital Economy: Context, Motivations, and Outcomes.Durante, G. and Turvani, M. (2018). Coworking, the sharing economy and the city: which role for the coworking Entrepreneur.Bueno, S., Rodríguez-Baltanás, G. and Gallego, M. D. (2018). Coworking spaces: a new way of achieving productivity. Weijs-Perrée, M.,Appel-Meulenbroek, R., Vries, B. D. and Romme, G. (2016). Differences between business center concepts in The Netherlands.MixedBouncken, R., Ratzmann, M., Barwinski, R. and Kraus, S. (2020). Coworking spaces: Empowerment for entrepreneurship and innovation in the d ...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
In the last decade, the development of flexible workspaces has become a global phenomenon. It is forecasted that by 2030, buildings will quickly and flexibly respond to the demands of those who occupy them. Indications of such transformations are evident even in the contemporary real estate arena. Coworking which is defined as the 'third wave of virtual work' is paramount in such transformations. However, despite this advancement and acknowledgment of success of these workspaces in the commercial real estate market, a limited number of academic studies exist. Further, attempts made on consolidating the existing knowledge base is not adequate. Thus, the aim of this paper is to review the existing literature and identify common themes and interesting research gaps in the coworking space business model for future research. Through this systematic review, 24 articles were reviewed. This review included quantitative, qualitative and mixed approach research articles published on coworking space context during the past five years. A comprehensive review was done using eight key rubRoyal Institute of Charted Surveyors. Finally, many important gaps in the existing literature were identified on the coworking space context and sharing economy and directions for future investigations were provided.
... In addition, coworking spaces attract professionals from traditional office settings because of the opportunity for networking and collaboration (Bueno et al. 2018;Cheah and Ho 2019). As mentioned, coworking spaces are designed to be open, inclusive, and shared by people from different backgrounds and functions including entrepreneurs, freelancers, artists, researchers, and students (Cheah and Ho 2019;Oswald and Zhao 2022). ...
Article
Full-text available
Space sharing for companies has become a trend in the last decade. Many of the benefits of these spaces go beyond the financial scope, creating real value-added processes from these spaces. This study examines the associations between networks developed in coworking spaces and business performance. This research was quantitative, exploratory, and descriptive ex post facto. A survey was conducted among companies installed in coworking spaces in Recife, Brazil. The sample consisted of 77 valid respondents, and the data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics that measure central tendency, factor analysis, and Spearman (ordinal indicators) and Pearson (resulting factors) correlations, in addition to reliability tests and adequacy of the sample, necessary in the refinement of the scales. This study makes a theoretical contribution by specifying the concept of coworking, a topic still underexplored in the literature, and by defining networks in this context, which allowed for the development of a measurement scale. It also discusses the performance construct and its measurement classes, which showed significant internal consistency. Despite the consistency in the data, only the hypothesis of a positive and significant association between network and market performance was partially accepted, demonstrating that more than the network alone was needed to generate results among coworkers. This lack of association contradicts the literature as it is the most discussed aspect in qualitative studies on coworking and suggests that the network may not be a final resource but rather a means by which users obtain benefits such as benchmarks, creative ideas, and adaptation of business practices.
... In recent times, when service firms employ workers in exploitative schemes with low salaries, employees seek refuge in freelancing, freelance work and, consequently, co-working spaces (Moriset, 2013). According to the results of the study conducted by Bueno et al. (2018); the intensity of coworking spaces, social interaction increases productivity and encourages freelancing. ...
Article
Full-text available
The growing interest in freelancing after the 1980s has led to the need to deepen the academic scope. Although there are various studies on freelancing, location-based studies have remained at a basic level. The study aims to identify the factors affecting the location-based career planning of freelancers in the context of OECD countries. In this context, the methodology of the research is a theoretical comparative qualitative analysis based on asymmetric analysis (Fuzzy Set QCA). The adequacy/requirements, configurations and country-specific clusters of effective conditions suitable for self-employment are revealed. According to the research findings, while all variables are found to be sufficient for the freelancing score in a singular sense, the absence of demand for freelancers reveals the absence of demand for the freelancing score as an absolute requirement. Based on the configuration results, specific results are found that could potentially suggest a model for freelancing status (FS) and non-freelancing status (~FS) of countries. Ultimately, the findings are instrumental in identifying the most favorable conditions and countries for freelancers. In this way, the research enables employees to plan their careers by taking into account the conditions that they deem important for them individually.
... In addition, Jeske and Ruwe (2019) proposed cowork-ing as an option to achieve both flexibility and inclusion, giving remote workers the chance to maintain a sense of community and access to on-site support. In fact, some research has shown that relational dynamics that are established in coworking spaces can positively influence collaboration, productivity and well-being (Bueno et al. 2018). Nevertheless, as Appel-Meulenbroek et al. 2021 noted, users' perception of the benefits of coworking, even if the decision to use coworking spaces is based on company policies, strongly depends on the users' expectations and preferences. ...
Article
Full-text available
Some companies are considering offering their affiliated workers external coworking spaces as an option to achieve both flexibility and inclusion, giving remote workers the chance to maintain a sense of community and have access to on-site support. However, the motivations, advantages, and problems associated with using coworking spaces for affiliated workers remain underanalysed. This study adopts a qualitative approach by conducting semistructured interviews with Italian affiliated workers who are coworking space users. Our analysis explores the benefits of using coworking spaces and the reasons that motivate affiliated workers to do so, as well as how relationships, social support, and collaboration with coworkers and colleagues are perceived. The results show that the perceived main advantages concern (a) flexibility and work efficiency and (b) relational opportunities, at both the personal and professional levels. The findings clarify the conditions under which workers sharing coworking spaces develop satisfying social relationships and collaboration, shedding light on the group dynamics of a mix of affiliated and unaffiliated workers across coworking spaces from the affiliated workers’ perspective. The study also discusses the role that affiliated workers’ organizations can play in addressing the challenges that coworking spaces pose for workers’ well-being and organizations.
... Being primarily membership-based, CWS enable professionals to utilize shared workstations that accelerate users' flexibility and fluctuation within the designated work environment, supporting interactivity and sociality among individuals (Bueno et al., 2018). That said, CWS function as catalysts for social interaction and reciprocal knowledge sharing, although spontaneous and serendipitous collaborative exchanges are not as common as expected (Brown, 2017). ...
Article
Full-text available
Purpose-This study aims to examine the impact of coworking spaces (CWS) on the wellbeing and entrepreneurial satisfaction of remotely working micro-entrepreneurs, highlighting the role of these spaces beyond conventional work locations. It specifically investigates how CWS foster a supportive ecosystem for micro-entrepreneurs, supporting their professional journey. Design/methodology/approach-Employing a mixed-methodological approach, this study uses nearest-neighbor matching and multiple regressions based on quantitative surveys from a representative sample of micro-entrepreneurs, including those working from CWS, and a qualitative focus group with frequent CWS users. This comprehensive approach allows for a nuanced exploration of the impacts of CWS on micro-entrepreneurs' wellbeing and satisfaction. Findings-The study finds that micro-entrepreneurs experience significant benefits from utilizing CWS, most notably in terms of wellbeing and work-life balance. These spaces provide valuable support through community building, networking opportunities and structured work environments. The benefits of CWS are particularly pronounced for women and micro-entrepreneurs with young children, aiding in boundary management and mitigating the challenges of social isolation. Practical implications-We provide clear implications for remotely working micro-entrepreneurs, especially women with young children at home, on why to use CWS as their primary locations. The findings also offer insights for policymakers and CWS providers, underlining the importance of designing CWS environments that meet micro-entrepreneurs' diverse needs. Originality/value-This study contributes to the existing literature by providing a detailed examination of the utilization of CWS among micro-entrepreneurs and the impact of CWS on their wellbeing and entrepreneurial satisfaction.
... CWSs usually offer affordable office spaces for businesses and freelancers, along with other services that include the use and sharing of hardware, office equipment and other tangible and intangible resources. A stream of literature offers insights into the direct impacts of CWSs, especially bottom-up, community-driven spaces, considering the precarious conditions of freelance work (Avdikos and Kalogeresis, 2017;Merkel, 2015), the impact of coworking on workers' well-being (Akhavan and Mariotti, 2023;Ciccarelli, 2023;Papageorgiou, 2022) and workers' productivity (Bueno et al., 2018). Other critical voices suggest that work has become a consumerised experience that is marketed and sold in CWSs, usually in ones that can be characterised as market-driven (Bacevice and Spreitzer, 2022), and that CWSs have cultivated a flexible workplace culture that considers the employee as a consumer (Pajevic, 2021). ...
Article
With the continuous deregulation of state functions in processes of neoliberal urban production, coworking spaces have emerged as autonomous actors in processes of urban development, as they appear to conglomerate flows of freelancers, startuppers, remote workers, digital nomads and financial capital from private investors and large corporations. As such, these actors could play an important role in the organisation of urban activities that could have multiple impacts on the urban economy. Tracing the effects of coworking spaces in metropolitan cities, this qualitative analysis is focused on coworking spaces in Athens and Berlin, two cities characterised by different development trajectories, socioeconomic and cultural contexts and positions within the European and global urban hierarchy. The results reveal that coworking spaces demonstrate high levels of adaptability to the specific characteristics of the urban contexts in which they are located and play a dual role by (1) shaping and channelling the consumption patterns of coworkers while also (2) operating as mediators and facilitators of multilevel private investment and financialisation processes.
... Coworking spaces are part of the digital economy and bear witness to changes in traditional work practices and places (de Peuter et al., 2017;Grazian, 2020;Moriset, 2017;Orel et al., 2021). As such, they have been studied in the field of economics, management (Bouncken et al., 2020;Bueno et al., 2018;Butcher, 2018;Gertner and Mack, 2017;Tremblay and Scaillerez, 2020) Merkel, 2019;Robelski et al., 2019). A small, but growing, number of studies have started using a geographical approach, examining factors related to the location of CSs (Bednář et al., 2021;Di Marino et al., 2021) and its implications for public policy (Ananian and Leducq, 2021;Babb et al., 2018;Leducq and Ananian, 2019;Mariotti et al., 2017Mariotti et al., , 2021Di Marino et al., 2021). ...
... • Agreed sense of the rationality of CWS communities for instrumental entrepreneurial ends (Bouncken et al., 2020;Jamal, 2018) in spite of debates around the status of CWS as communities and the types of communities they generate. • Literature examining CWS in context of start-up ecosystems and innovative entrepreneurialism (Bueno et al., 2018;Fraiberg, 2017;Gauger et al., 2021) finding positive influence of social interactions and coworking on productivity. ...
Article
Full-text available
The last decade has witnessed increased demand by employers and workers for greater flexibility, especially regarding remote and hybrid work. There has therefore been a substantial increase in academic interest in coworking, including within business and management studies. We conduct a systematic literature review of research on coworking and coworking spaces (CWS) to argue this field is now sufficiently developed to merit recognition as an important element of discussion surrounding workplaces of the future. We outline the core themes in coworking research and identify three key research weaknesses relating to common understandings of community, context and change. The article then advances a future research agenda based on two avenues of enquiry. First, greater attention needs to be paid to the value propositions of CWS as businesses. Second, the concept of embeddedness should be used to better understand CWS in their local and national contexts, and we argue for a broader, place‐based analytical focus on CWS. We present two possible future scenarios for CWS, based on opposing forces of homogenisation and differentiation, and we outline their relevance for further debate surrounding workplaces of the future.
... A positive atmosphere similar to a hotel; will lead to better and positive outcomes. (Bandinelli, 2020;Bueno et al, 2018;Robelski et al, 2019;Yang et al, 2020) An article in 2022 by Brinks (2022) identifies that Coworking space is a BuzzWord. The author has cited the aspects of developing literature around coworking in the last 10 years. ...
Research
Full-text available
The study identifies the determinants of successful coworking spaces by examining Google reviews. The analysis aims to understand the successful criteria which are set out. There are over forty-five (45) coworking spaces with varying scale, with different value propositions. The purpose of the research will be to pinpoint the key value propositions that are expected by the clientele. Sri Lanka is able to attract digital nomads and foreigners. It becomes a priority to drive results for coworking spaces and facilitate the choice. The research method adopted will be a desk research study. The research will be able to pinpoint key determinants by using a deductive approach. A thematic study is undertaken on the concepts and themes that are repeating. A total of 45 coworking spaces of the Sri Lanka's listed coworking spaces and the total count of 5,435 reviews presented on Google reviews have been coded, analysed, and findings generated. As the key findings study has explored that, Coworking spaces are centred in Colombo, the commercial capital of the country; and in beaches-which attract the digital nomad (tourists). It was identifiable that Colombo lacked a catalogue of coworking spaces to enable such digital nomads. Listing sites of this nature often intended to revenue share with the coworking spaces. Nevertheless, a digital nomad will find this a challenge, which was identifiable in this research. The KANO model was applied. In this research the framework of Weji-Perree et al (2019) model on coworking space satisfiers was proven. Further, variables adoptable to Sri Lanka were also identified-Price sensitivity, availability of parking space, differential pricing to tourists, value for money orientation. Further research avenues relevant to this topic could be to understand the gap in coworking digital marketing initiatives, lack of design thinking in the coworking space, similarly the architectural angle in the coworking space. Further, research efforts may also be considered in aspects of International Journal of Contemporary Business Research Volume 2, Issue 2_2023 215 coworking profitability, coworking user intentions and their match to coworking spaces, owner operated versus corporate structure suitability to coworking spaces.
... Telework as a type of spatial localisation of workplaces outside company premises has also been examined in terms such as telecommuting and in relation to traffic flow sustainability (Cerqueira et al., 2020;Melo & de Abreu e Silva, 2017;Nilles, 1988) and work-family balance (Bellmann & Hübler, 2021;Gajendran & Harrison, 2007;Kurowska, 2020;van der Lippe & Lippényi, 2020). Besides WFH, satellite and neighbourhood offices and coworking spaces are emerging as the sharing economy develops, and these new types of distributed work and office concepts are also attracting research attention (Bueno et al., 2018;Lashani & Zacher, 2021;Matiaske & Seifert, 2021;Orel, 2019;Weijs-Perrée et al., 2019). ...
Article
Digitalisation and the COVID-19 pandemic have increased the use of telework. Employees often use private resources for working from home (WFH). However, we know little about how employers and employees divide telework-related workplace costs, whether employees are burdened with workplace costs in a trend of 'Uberisation of private homes', or whether there are legal or economic reasons to have employees bear the workplace cost. We first analyse Germany's legal framework. Second, we estimate the compositions and levels of workplace costs in different scenarios. We then analyse the allocation of workplace costs from the perspectives of the de facto legal situation, risk allocation and preference matching. We show that, for the most common telework types, the assumption of costs is insufficiently regulated. In practice, there is often only an implicit understanding that employees bear the workplace costs – which runs partly against the legal framework. Cost assumption by employees is efficient only in special conditions – if the employee is free to decide on workplace location and thus whether telework is voluntary. We advocate an obligation to conclude an agreement on whether the employer or the employee decides on the workplace location, whether the employer will reimburse (parts of) the workplace costs, and, if so, which parts of the costs will be borne. Such an agreement would make workplace cost negotiation mandatory, reduce uncertainty, and help improve preference matching, thereby increasing the efficiency of spatial workplace organisation.
... Ide awal coworking space adalah tempat untuk menampung interaksi sosial, kolaborasi, kewirausahaan yang terbuka, dan inovasi untuk pekerja lepas, usaha baru, atau interpreneur individu (Bouncken et al., 2021). Tempat tersebut memiliki potensi meningkatkan produktivitas (Bueno et al., 2018;Lescarret et al., 2022). Bahkan sebuah tulisan mencoba menawarkan rancangan furnitur coworking space untuk lebih meningkatkan produktivitas penggunanya (Mulyana, et al., 2023). ...
Article
Solo Creative Center merupakan sebuah wadah bagi para pelaku industri kreatif yang ada di Kota Surakarta. Pemerintah Kota Surakarta memprioritaskan pengembangan 4 subsektor dari 15 subsektor industri kreatif yang digarap Badan Ekonomi Kreatif (BEKRAF) yang sekarang sudah tergabung dengan KEMENPAREKRAF guna meningkatkan UKM kreatif di daerah. Ke empat subsektor tersebut merupakan kuliner, tekstil, kriya, dan seni pertunjukan. Perancangan desain interior pada Solo Creative Center dalam tahapannya menggunakan sebuah metode desain programing, skematik, pengembangan desain, dan presentasi sebagai cara seorang desainer mengembangkan ide desainnya. Minimalis diterapkan sebagai sebuah konsep di dalam Desain interior Solo Crative Center. Minimalis dalam rancangan desain interior Solo Creative Center menggunakan sudut pandang arsitektur minimalis yang di mana terdapat ajaran dan gaya di dalamnya Ornament and crime, “less is more”, zen, arsitektur dan tradisi Jepang, shaker, stoicism, dan Cistercian.
... Much of the existing literature identifies CWS communities as being for broadly instrumental entrepreneurial ends (Bouncken et al., 2020a;Jamal, 2018;Kubatova, 2016), despite disagreements regarding the different kinds of communities they generate and support. Bueno et al. (2018) find a positive influence of social interactions in coworking environments on productivity, while other literature identifies the role CWS have in start-up ecosystems and cultures of innovative entrepreneurialism concentrated in urban centres (Bednár et al., 2023;Fraiberg, 2017;Gauger et al., 2021). Research on communities of practice can illuminate this further by theorising CWS as sites where users with shared concerns regularly interact, and in doing so form a particular domain, community and prevailing practice (Brown and Duigid, 1991;Wenger, 2011) which can advance both individual and collective ends. ...
Article
Full-text available
This paper examines the growth of the UK coworking space (CWS) sector in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing on data from a multi-year study comprising 44 interviews with CWS owners, managers, and other key economic actors. The paper offers a novel contribution by drawing on critical political economy to conceptualise CWS as capitalist enterprises providing fixed capital of an independent kind in competitive markets increasingly shaped by changing urban commercial real estate dynamics which necessitate that CWS adapt their business models to remain economically viable. The paper finds the entry of large corporate actors in the CWS sector is forcing smaller independent CWS to diversify to remain competitive. This pressure inhibits the ability of CWS to adhere to-and offer services matching-the aims of early CWS, namely the cultivation of a community of like-minded individuals who cowork to reduce rental costs and social isolation. These findings are theoretically and empirically significant as they illustrate how rapid sectoral shifts are driven by business decisions with structural causes, rather than being due to the actions of individual users of CWS or the communities they serve. These findings have implications for understanding the future of coworking and provide new insights into how competition shapes and changes the business models and competitive strategies of enterprises.
... Coworking spaces are shared and highly flexible workplaces that commonly offer various open or semi-open types of office spaces to accommodate knowledge workers pursuing individual or remote work arrangements (Rus & Orel, 2015). The first coworking spaces emerged in the mid-2000s as a direct response to the growing trend of self-employed individuals working from home or at a local café, facing challenges such as social isolation (Gerdenitsch et al., 2016), productivity issues (Bueno et al., 2018), and an appropriate work-life balance (Ivaldi et al., 2018). While experiencing a drop in the number of users due to the need for social and physical distancing in the first months of the pandemic, many coworking spaces managed to adapt until the end of the first wave by following strict health measures, and soon witnessed an increase of users whose employers retained a work from home policy (Gruenwald, 2020). ...
Chapter
Full-text available
... The last cluster, related to employee teleworking, is cluster #9, with coworking as a dominant theme. The cluster is relatively small (with only 48 articles), discussing the emergence of coworking spaces [40], focusing on some issues related to its motives and outcomes [41], impact on productivity [42], and comparing it to a home office in terms of psychosocial demands [43]. ...
... Currently, CWS are presented as spaces of opportune encounters, open knowledge, creativity, sharing, innovation processes, and spontaneous collaboration [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17], and they are intended to create a feeling of a sense of community [18,19], collaboration, and inspiration [20]. CWSs are intended to provide infrastructure and interaction opportunities not only for independent professionals and freelancers [21], but also for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and corporations [22,23], and for employees who prefer flexible workspaces because of their workstyle [4,24] with a high impact, especially on self-employed or freelancer women [25]. ...
Chapter
Coworking spaces (CWSs), as modern social work environments, provide flexible work infrastructure and dedicated space to facilitate professional and social interaction, which was found to stimulate entrepreneurship and creativity, creating well-constructed opportunities for social support. The number of CWS has been increasing rapidly around the world, particularly since the Great Recession of 2008. The incidence of COVID-19 pandemic has made teleworking the only possible reality for the operation of many companies and freelancers. However, as confinement restrictions soften, an increase in the need for coworking spaces has been observed since, in many cases, teleworking at home is not possible, it is not the most efficient mode of work, and there is a desire to separate home from work-life. In this context of postpandemic return to the office, new opportunities are being created, and CWS can become an attractive and lucrative business model and real estate strategy. The study presented in this paper is focused on the city of Valencia (Eastern Spain), which is considered to be the third most important city in Spain, having a population of nearly 800,000 inhabitants and a size of 135 km2. The manuscript presents the results of a specific survey conducted both to users and coworking managers, and based on those results, the optimal locations for possible future coworking spaces using a geographical information system and statistical population information are defined.KeywordsCoworkingCOVID-19ValenciaOptimal location
... The term coworking is used in collaborative environments not only in business and entrepreneurship and public spaces such as libraries and learning spaces (Bilandzic and Johnson, 2013;Bueno et al., 2018). Coworking spaces can be provided by a coworking firm, a public institution (e.g., a chamber of commerce or library), or a university (Bouncken, 2016). ...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
The identification of differences in managers' approach to motivation, ways of motivation of employees and their application in selected family and nonfamily businesses is the issue that we address in this paper. The main goal of the contribution is to bring a proposal for improving the motivation of employees in these two companies, considering their nature. We will fill its essence with partial objectives, which include the analysis of the current state of motivation in both types of companies, the identification of differences in the approach of managers and their mutual comparison, and last but not least, the proposal of a solution. The methods used include: questionnaire survey, analysis, synthesis and comparison. The benefit of the contribution is the proposal of solutions that can improve motivation in family and non-family businesses and the proposal of the optimal selection of the motivation variant using multicriteria analysis.
... (3) Indirect societal benefits from a scaled level of sharing activity within a community (i.e. less congestion, more trust, societal benefit from more access to QOL [2]. This can be considered positive externalities. ...
... Selain itu, interaksi pengguna yang terus berkembang yang dihasilkan dari mekanisme mediasi yang efektif memungkinkan individu-individu ini menemukan dukungan emosional, meningkatkan produktivitas, dan bertukar pengetahuan (Orel, 2019). Terakhir ada penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Bueno yang menghasilkan kesimpulan bahwa CS adalah tempat yang cocok untuk memulai aktivitas kolaboratif dengan tujuan menghasilkan pekerjaan yang sangat produktif, berdasarkan peluang yang ditawarkan oleh beberapa fitur inti, seperti interaksi sosial, peluang baru, dan berbagi pengetahuan (Bueno et al., 2018). Dari tiga jurnal yang dikumpulkan dapat disimpulkan bahwa penggunaan CS memberikan dampak yang positif bagi pengguna-penggunanya, akan tetapi cakupan penelitian mereka terlalu luas dan cenderung menarik kesimpulan secara global. ...
Article
Full-text available
Ruang kerja bersama (Coworking Space) bukan lagi hal yang baru bagi pengusaha yang hendak mencari tempat bekerja aman dan nyaman. Akibat adanya fenomena tersebut, maka artikel ini meneliti efektifitas Coworking Space sebagai salah satu penunjang pengusaha memperoleh kesuksesan mereka ditinjau dari tema finansial. Metode yang digunakan di dalam penelitian ini adalah metode penelitian kuantitatif serta menggunakan skala Likert sebagai metode pengumpulan data. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa Coworking Space memberiktan dampak positif bagi pengusaha dalam peningkatan finansial ekonomi. Pemilihan Coworking Space sebagai sarana untuk membantu pengusaha menciptakan lingkungan bisnis yang kondusif menjadi ideal.
... Finally, other contributions relate productivity gains to working in other third spaces. For instance, Bueno (2018) explores productivity in coworking spaces and finds a positive relation between working in a coworking space and productivity for men, but not for women. In line with these results, Robelski weaving an intersectional fabric." ...
Thesis
Work autonomy, low degree of formalization, and unconventional organizational structure character-ize academic work. These features make academics free to choose their work location, differently from other knowledge workers, whose work location choices are more constrained. In recent decades, thanks to the diffusion of information and communication technologies, academics have increasingly performed their research work outside university campuses, in off-campus locations (e.g., their own houses, public libraries, dedicated laboratories, firm premises, or even coworking spaces, cafés, and parks). The university campus moved beyond a static space to a more blurred place that alternatively includes multiple locations (i.e., the university, the home, and other third spaces). The recent pandemic exacerbated this trend. Despite the increasing diffusion of this phenomenon, up to now, scholars have paid little attention to why and how academics choose the location of their research work. Moreover, it is not clear whether such choices influence their work outcomes. This PhD project explores academics’ spatial practices for research on- and off-campus and the role of the physical workspaces in influencing the choice to work either on- or off-campus, stimulating ac-ademic productivity, and shaping the academic work experience. Overall, this thesis takes advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic period as a privileged time frame to study academic work. This research aims at providing a first interpretation of the disruptive Covid-working period and its potential long-term consequences on academic work. Namely, this research aims at (a) identifying academics’ loca-tion choices for research activities among university, home, and other third spaces; (b) measuring the effects of these location choices on- and off-campus on academic productivity; and (c) understand-ing key spatial implications of academic work in those multiple locations (university, home, and other third spaces). To reach these objectives, this thesis adopts a mixed-method approach, including econometric analy-sis of survey data (7,865 responses) on the whole population of Italian tenured academics, secondary data, scraped from public databases on academic productivity (i.e., Scopus Database), and 22 interviews with academics from three public universities in Milan as well as visual data. Drawing upon these analyses, this thesis posits four important scientific contributions. First, this research brings new empirical evidence about academic location choices by recognizing four clusters: Home-centric, Between home and university, Multi-located and University-centric. Second, this research synthetizes the different determinants of location choices in academia. Each of the four clusters is explained by different determinants. Mostly, work-related factors (i.e., discipline) influence location choices. However, workspace-related factors (i.e., on-campus workspace spatial quality, the need for a laboratory and commuting time) are crucial factors for work location decisions. Finally, private life-related factors (i.e., living with school children or a partner) and demographic fac-tors (i.e., gender) push academics in increasing work-from-home. Third, this thesis finds that working from the university during the Covid-19 pandemic increases aca-demic productivity more than any other location choice, while working from home negatively influ-ences productivity. Noteworthy, the relation between each location choice and academic productivity strongly depends on the characteristics of the workspace at home and on-campus as well as on indi-vidual traits such as gender. Fourth, referring to Lefebvre’s spatial theory, this thesis reveals how academics produce their work-space within and beyond the boundaries of their university campuses. Spatial practices across multiple workspaces span from losing the workspace in favour of the accelerated rhythms of academic work and university obligations (i.e., domination of space), towards recovering the workspace through strategies for protecting work freedom and autonomy (i.e., appropriation of space). From a practical perspective, this thesis identifies some approaches that universities decision makers and academics themselves should consider when designing future policies and future spaces for aca-demic work.
... Istilah Coworking Space ialah penggunaan ruangan oleh individu-individu sebagai lingkungan kerja yang mencari peluang pasar dengan metode berkolaborasi untuk saling mendukung usahanya (Bueno et al., 2018). Peresmian Coworking Space Tepat pada tanggal 10 November menjadi momen pembukaan. ...
Article
Tingginya tingkat jumlah penduduk di Kota besar, merupakan salah satu tantangan tersendiri yang harus dihadapi. Seperti halnya di Kota Surabaya, permasalahan yang sering terjadi di kota besar salah satunya ialah pengangguran yang disebabkan kurangnya lapangan pekerjaan. Untuk mengantisipasi permasalahan tersebut, pemerintah Kota Surabaya menciptakannya inovasi Cak e-Mus. CAngKrukan entrepreneur MUda Surabaya (CAK eMUS) yang diwujudkan dengan adanya co-working space bernama Koridor yang bertempat di Siola Mall Pelayanan Publik yang dikelolah oleh Humas Kota Surabaya. Inovasi ini ditujukan untuk menciptakan ekosistem yang memberdayakan para kreator, inovator, dan entrepreneur lokal untuk menciptakan inovasi yang mampu bersaing di tingkat global. Inovasi program ini memiliki tujuan yaitu memberdayakan anggota Usaha Mikro atau Usaha Kecil yang belum terlayani oleh perbankan dan lembaga keuangan lainnya melalui perkuatan struktur lembaga keuangan yang sehat serta untuk meningkatkan kemampuan sumber daya manusia. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan ialah penelitian deskriptif-kualitatif dengan fokus penelitian berdasarkan Teori yang digunakan adalah teori implementasi kebijakan menurut George C. Edward yang terdiri dari komunikasi, sumber daya, disposisi, struktur birokrasi. Tujuan penelitian ini ialah untuk menjelaskan dan menganalisis penerapan implementasi Program Cak E-MUS. Implementasi program Cak E-MUS sudah berjalan dengan baik selama kurang lebih 3 tahun, akan tetapi terjadi suatu permasalahan khususnya dalam sosialisasi dan promosi program, serta kurangnya edukasi kepada masyarakat. Salah satu cara untuk mengatasi permasalahan tersebut adalah dengan cara melakukan berbagai sosialisasi atau sharing bersama pihak start up yang lain. Kata Kunci : Pegangguran, Implementasi program, Program Cak E-MUS The high level of population in big cities is one of challenges that must be faced. As in the city of Surabaya, the problem often occurs in big cities is unemployment caused by lack of employment opportunities. To anticipate these problems, the Surabaya City government created the Cak e-Mus innovation. CAngKrukan entrepreneur MUda Surabaya (CAK eMUS) is realized by the existence of co-working space called Corridor which located at Siola Mall Public Services managed by Public Relations of Surabaya City. This innovation aimed at creating ecosystem that empowers local creators, innovators and entrepreneurs to create innovations can compete at global level. This program innovation aims to empower members of Micro or Small Businesses have not been served by banks and other financial institutions through strengthening the structure financial institutions and to improve human resource capabilities. The type of research used is descriptive-qualitative research with research focus based on the theory used of policy implementation according to George C. Edward which consists of communication, resources, disposition, and bureaucratic structures. The purpose of this study was to explain and analyze implementation of the Cak E-MUS Program. Implementation of the Cak E-MUS program has been going well for 3 years, but there is problem especially in socialization and promotion, as well as lack of education to the public. One way to overcome this problem is by conducting various socializations or sharing with other start-ups. Key word : Unemployment, Program implementation, Cak E-MUS Program
... A possible justification for the non-alignment of this variable with the literature could be the fact that the majority of respondents act by teleworking in a hybrid way, without the need to be submitted to the teleworking laws and regulations. [38], teleworkers' management should be based on regular communication between manager and subordinate as the main factor to ensure good management. Regular communication is a determining factor for the good management of teleworkers. ...
Article
Full-text available
Background: Organizational changes in the traditional work models demand studies on the management of the so called "Teleworking". Objective: This research aims to analyse the teleworking management practices to subside organizations and leaders to improve their performance and enhance workers quality of life. Methods: A survey was carried out with teleworkers to obtain their perception of the analyzed factors, using the survey monkey tool. The collected data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results: The validated model for the practices analysis is composed of the constructs: business management, physical and people infrastructure, leadership, self-esteem, and job satisfaction. Based on the analysis carried out, it is suggested that organizations establish organizational telework policies, follow government policies and provide communication and competence plans. Moreover, it is crucial providing technologies and support to them and develop people management practices in teleworking. Leaders must provide confidence, a teleworking culture, professional advancement, integration, well-being, negotiation of goals and a training plan. The teleworker's satisfaction is due to the sustainability related to the work model and its choice defined by personal motivation, balance between personal and professional life and a sense of belonging. Conclusions: All variables observed, linked to the constructs and validated, can be considered by managers to improve human resource management and obtain better productivity results.
... The term coworking is used in collaborative environments not only in business and entrepreneurship and public spaces such as libraries and learning spaces (Bilandzic and Johnson, 2013;Bueno et al., 2018). Coworking spaces can be provided by a coworking firm, a public institution (e.g., a chamber of commerce or library), or a university (Bouncken, 2016). ...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
The main goal of the paper is to theoretically identify the values that result from the principles of selected classical management approach theories based on the cultural background of their authors. Theoretically, three selected classic theories were analysed: scientific management, administrative theory, and bureaucracy. The results of the theoretical research show that cultural values (organisational culture) manifested in mentioned theories are influenced by the cultural background of its authors (national culture). At the same time, each considered their approach the most appropriate in a given cultural context. Thus, these approaches cannot be considered good or bad but functional or dysfunctional, similar to cultures.
... Co-working spaces offer a wide range of benefits to individuals to interact, collaborate, conduct business, and network in an entrepreneurship environment (Fuzi, 2015). The Covid induced restrictions have reduced the physical visits to co-working spaces, but previous studies have shown that work from home (also known as telework) can reduce job satisfaction and lower productivity (Bueno, et al., 2018) due to lower levels of social interaction and personal feelings of isolation, family conflicts (Mayerhoffer, 2021). In this regard, coworking spaces offer a friendly environment where individuals, entrepreneurs, freelancers can work together, share ideas, and improve creativity, productivity (Mitev, et al., 2018). ...
Article
Full-text available
Purpose: This paper aims to investigate 1) the advantages and disadvantages of coworking spaces for coworkers, 2) interior design factors that attract entrepreneurs to work/rent coworking spaces. Research questions: To reach the purpose of the study, three questions were developed. 1) What are the various advantages and disadvantages offered by the co-working space to working individuals? 2) What interior design factors influence the individual's perception on co-working space selection? 3) What social factors influence the individual's perception of co-working space selection? Methods: A quantitative research approach was used in this study by employing an online survey questionnaire. A purposive sampling technique was employed in this study. The population of this study is all individuals, freelancers, employers, business owners who are utilizing co-working spaces in Kuwait. Results: the findings of this study indicated an important role of interior design facilities toward coworking spaces. The physical environment of the coworking space is an important factor for renting coworking spaces. Besides that, the social aspect is considered highly important between members. Research limitations/implications: Due to the conceptual approach and specific case of Kuwait, the discussions lack generalizability. The paper provides valuable insight into the factors that can help practitioners, interior design educational programs, and coworking business owners for improving Kuwait's entrepreneurial ecosystem. ‫الملخص‬ ‫الدراسة‬ ‫هدف‬ ‫معرفة:‬ ‫الى‬ ‫الدراسة‬ ‫هذه‬ ‫تهدف‬ : 1 ‫المشتركة،‬ ‫العمل‬ ‫مساحات‬ ‫في‬ ‫العمل‬ ‫وسلبيات‬ ‫إيجابيات‬) 2 ‫التصميم‬ ‫عوامل‬) ‫المشتركة.‬ ‫العمل‬ ‫مساحات‬ ‫في‬ ‫لالستئجار‬ / ‫للعمل‬ ‫األعمال‬ ‫ورواد‬ ‫أصحاب‬ ‫اهتمام‬ ‫جذب‬ ‫في‬ ‫المؤثرة‬ ‫الداخلي‬ ‫البحث‬ ‫أسئلة‬ ‫للبحث،‬ ‫أسئلة‬ ‫ثالثة‬ ‫هناك‬ : 1 ‫وسلبيات‬ ‫إيجابيات‬ ‫ماهي‬) ‫المشتركة؟‬ ‫العمل‬ ‫مساحات‬ ‫في‬ ‫العمل‬ 2 ‫عوامل‬ ‫ماهي‬) ‫الجماعية؟‬ ‫العمل‬ ‫مساحات‬ ‫اختيار‬ ‫في‬ ‫المشتركين‬ ‫انطباعات‬ ‫على‬ ‫تؤثر‬ ‫التي‬ ‫الداخلي‬ ‫التصميم‬ 3 ‫االجتماعية‬ ‫العوامل‬ ‫ماهي‬) ‫الجماعية؟‬ ‫العمل‬ ‫مساحات‬ ‫اختيار‬ ‫في‬ ‫المشتركين‬ ‫انطباعات‬ ‫على‬ ‫تؤثر‬ ‫التي‬ ‫والتصميم‬ ‫التراث‬ ‫مجلة‬-‫الثاني‬ ‫المجلد‬-‫ا‬ ‫العدد‬ ‫عشر‬ ‫الحادي‬ ‫أكتوبر‬ 2022 312 ‫الدراسة‬ ‫منهجية‬ : ‫كال‬ ‫الدراسة‬ ‫استخدمت‬ ‫تم‬ ‫المغلقة.‬ ‫األسئلة‬ ‫ذلك‬ ‫في‬ ‫بما‬ ‫الكمي‬ ‫األسلوب‬ ‫باستخدام‬ ‫واالستبيان،‬ ‫المسح‬ ‫من‬ ‫المشتركة‬ ‫العمل‬ ‫مساحات‬ ‫في‬ ‫المشتركين‬ ‫االعمال‬ ‫أصحاب‬ ‫وهي‬ ‫مستهدفة‬ ‫عينة‬ ‫استخدام‬ ‫ومستقلين‬ ‫كموظفين‬ ‫يعملون‬ ‫منهم‬ ‫صغيرة.‬ ‫مشاريع‬ ‫وأصحاب‬ ‫الدراسة‬ ‫نتائج‬ : ‫الت‬ ‫عناصر‬ ‫أهمية‬ ‫الى‬ ‫الدراسة‬ ‫نتائج‬ ‫أشارت
... • productivity (Bueno et al., 2018;Merkel, 2015) -there are fewer distractions than at home; • professionalization Brown, 2017) -towards clients and business partners; • socialization -meeting people to avoid social isolation at home (Boboc et al., 2014), to use its creative atmosphere (Capdevila, 2013;Parrino, 2015), and to fnd support and inspiration within a community of peers (Garrett et al., 2017;Rus & Orel, 2015). ...
Article
Purpose The global economy is experiencing an expansion in knowledge-based businesses, which has compelled organizations to search for mechanisms of raising knowledge worker productivity. This study utilizes multiple theories to explain lessons learned from a positive story on how to raise the productivity of knowledge workers. Design/methodology/approach The study used a qualitative methodology of storytelling, a form of narrative inquiry about a phenomenon. In-depth interviews were carried out with information and communication technology (ICT) workers in Uganda. Findings Findings reveal that knowledge workers who communicate and mutually support each other are inclined to share knowledge and best practices that promote cost-effective utilization of resources. Additionally, knowledge workers with a behavior oriented toward the continuous exploration of innovative ideas are proactive in creating knowledge on how to render quality services. Research limitations/implications The study was carried out in one country, which may limit generalization of results. Practical implications The study underscores the importance of continuously developing the human capital base and fostering a collaborative environment for knowledge workers. This nurtures the capacity and a shared responsibility to generate innovative ideas directed toward the effective utilization of resources. Moreover, the study advocates for the inclusion of social competencies, such as interpersonal skills, in the selection process of knowledge workers. Originality/value This study stands out from the existing literature since it uses a success story to document the real-life experiences of a knowledge worker who had to overcome numerous challenges to raise productivity in knowledge work.
Article
Purpose This paper aims to explore the impact of face-to-face and online social interactions on coworkers’ perception of performance in coworking spaces (CWS) compared to working from home (WFH). CWS are work environments where different actors compete and collaborate. The impact of such interactions on performance remains unclear. Building on the conceptual framework of “coopetition” (Bengtsson et al., 2016) and the theory of hyperpersonal interactions (Walther, 1996), this research attempts to bring light into the discussion. Design/methodology/approach The study hypothesizes that frequent face-to-face community events negatively affect coworker performance compared to WFH. Conversely, digital platforms connecting CWS users are expected to enhance performance. The authors use a data set of 135 CWS users. Linear regression models are fitted using self-rated performance in the CWS compared to performance when WFH as dependent variable. Findings This study’s analysis shows that the frequency of face-to-face events is negatively associated with perceived performance at CWS compared to performance at WFH. Furthermore, CWS digital platforms do not show a significant relationship with performance in CWS compared to WFH. Originality/value This study adds to the literature on “coopetition” with specific reference to the case of CWS. It broadens the activity school perspective highlighting that coworking offline and online interactions have different performance implications. The paper also contributes to the theory of hyperpersonal interactions by studying the role of online communication. Findings help CWS managers to make informed decisions about the perceived outcomes of the services they provide. The analysis reveals the need to reconsider the frequency of face-to-face social events to avoid dysfunctional effects.
Thesis
Full-text available
هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى تحليل دور حاضنات الأعمال الجامعية في إنشاء ومرافقة المؤسسات الناشئة بالجزائر، مع التركيز على العلاقة بين الخدمات التي تقدمها هذه الحاضنات ومدى تأثيرها على نجاح المؤسسات الناشئة المحتضنة. تناول الإطار النظري مفاهيم ريادة الأعمال، المؤسسات الناشئة، وحاضنات الأعمال، مع دراسة الأبعاد الرئيسية للخدمات المقدمة، والتي تشمل: التكوين وبناء العلاقات، توفير الإمكانيات المادية والبشرية، خدمات التمويل، والخدمات الإدارية والاستشارية. كما شمل الجانب الميداني تحليلًا لواقع الحاضنات الجامعية الجزائرية وأثرها في تعزيز بيئة ريادية مستدامة تدعم المؤسسات الناشئة. اعتمدت الدراسة على المنهج الوصفي باستخدام استبيانات كأداة رئيسية لجمع البيانات، حيث تم توزيعها على 97 فردًا من مسيري وإطارات الحاضنات الجامعية، واسترجاع 79 استبيانا صالحا للتحليل. إلى جانب ذلك، تم استخدام المقابلات والملاحظات الميدانية لتوفير بيانات دقيقة ومعمقة، كما استخدمت الحزم الإحصائية لتحليل البيانات واختبار الفرضيات المتعلقة بالخدمات المقدمة وأثرها على نجاح المؤسسات الناشئة. أظهرت النتائج أن حاضنات الأعمال الجامعية تلعب دورا إيجابيا ومهما في دعم المؤسسات الناشئة، حيث تساهم الخدمات المقدمة في تطوير مهارات رواد الأعمال، تعزيز شبكات العلاقات، وتقديم الدعم المالي والإداري اللازم. كما كشفت الدراسة عن وجود علاقة ذات دلالة إحصائية بين الخدمات التي تقدمها الحاضنات ومستوى نجاح المؤسسات الناشئة. كذلك أظهرت النتائج وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية مرتبطة بخصائص المبحوثين الديموغرافية، مما يعكس تأثير هذه الخصائص على تقييم الخدمات ودورها في نجاح المؤسسات. أكدت الدراسة أن حاضنات الأعمال تمثل عنصرًا حيويًا في النظام البيئي لريادة الأعمال، وتسهم في تمكين المؤسسات الناشئة من تحقيق النمو والابتكار. الكلمات المفتاحية: حاضنات الأعمال، المؤسسات الناشئة، ريادة الأعمال، الجامعات الجزائرية. Abstract: This study aimed to analyze the role of university business incubators in the creation and supporting start-ups in Algeria, focusing on the relationship between the services provided by these incubators and their impact on the success of the incubated start-ups. The theoretical framework addressed the concepts of entrepreneurship, start-ups, and business incubators, while studying the main dimensions of the services provided, which include: training and building relationship, providing material and human capabilities, financing services, and administrative and advisory services. The field aspect also included an analysis of the reality of Algerian university incubators and their impact on promoting a sustainable entrepreneurial environment that supports start-ups. The study relied on the descriptive approach using questionnaires as the main tool for collecting data, as they were distributed to 97 individuals from university incubator managers and cadres, and 79 valid questionnaires were retrieved for analysis. In addition, interviews and field observations were used to provide accurate and in-depth data, and statistical packages were used to analyze the data and test hypotheses related to the services provided and their impact on the success of start-ups. The results showed that university business incubators play a positive and important role in supporting start-ups, as the services provided contribute to developing the skills of entrepreneurs, strengthening networks of relationships, and providing the necessary financial and administrative support. The study also revealed a statistically significant relationship between the services provided by incubators and the level of success of start-ups. The results also showed statistically significant differences related to the demographic characteristics of the respondents, which reflects the impact of these characteristics on the evaluation of services and their role in the success of institutions. The study confirmed that business incubators represent a vital element in the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and contribute to enabling emerging institutions to achieve growth and innovation. Keywords: Business incubators, start-ups, entrepreneurship, Algerian universities.
Article
Full-text available
Coworking spaces (CWS) are sustainable pillars for the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems, providing a variety of relevant services, which are co-created in exchanges experienced among different actors. During the pandemic, CWS experienced structural transformations. This study identified, characterised, and evaluated the relevance of the services provided by CWS considering the different stages in the evolution of a startup. For this, a narrative literature review was conducted and the second phase of the research included the development of netnographic initiatives and the conduction of multiple case studies. As a result, six categories of services were identified, comprehending 36 services, whose relevance varies considering the maturity level of the startup. This research contributes to the literature by providing a systemic view of the state of practice of these services in the context of CWS, as well as identifying the changes CWS environments are experiencing driven by digital transformations. Keywords: Coworking Spaces, startup, sharing economy, co-creation, digital transformation.
Article
This paper investigates the alterations of the coworking space model due to the disruptive nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on changes in users' well-being, productivity, and engagement in community-driven activities. Employing in-depth interviews, participant observations, and autoethnographic self-observations, the study explores the transition from a community-based work environment reliant on users' proximity to a hybrid workspace, where digitalised interactions complement users' physical presence. The findings reveal that although the digitalisation of coworking processes does not necessarily yield positive outcomes for users, implementing effective virtual environments can provide greater flexibility, maintain the interplay between well-being and productivity, and connect entrepreneurial ecosystems across regional and national boundaries. The paper’s main contribution is thus the exploration of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on coworking space dynamics and the transition towards a hybrid model that combines digital and physical presence to sustain community-oriented atmospheres and further support users' well-being and productivity.
Chapter
This chapter gives a critical and reflexive account of my ongoing PhD research on coworking spaces in Istanbul and Paris. I have been conducting research on urban coworking spaces for about five years albeit with unintentional breaks at times. The first part presents the concept of coworking and my encounter with the literature on coworking spaces. The second explains how my comparative ethnographic research in corporate and co-operative coworking spaces is designed and adjusted in time according to the changing conditions of a precarious researcher and objective conditions like the COVID-19 breakout. Lastly, I elaborate on my everyday life in coworking spaces considering my agency, subjectivity, and situated position as a researcher based on the examples and anecdotes from my field notes. I argue that researching urban coworking spaces as a precarious researcher has paved the way for a self-reflexive perspective for my field research. For this purpose, I tell the story of an interrupted fieldwork with various constraints outside traditional boundaries of academic research, focussing on the effects of urban geographical contexts and sociolinguistic characteristics of Istanbul and Paris, and different typologies of the coworking spaces used during the field research. Reflexivity allowed me to create wiggle rooms to cope with these constraints and challenges of the fieldwork in a cramped space of political possibilities.
Chapter
The disruptive nature of the changing media landscape and technology-driven advances in communication have led to innovative ways of organizing work in the information and communication industry. This reorganization of work is reflected in the concept of New Work, which rethinks working concepts, styles, and employee behavior. Based on a survey among staff in the information and communication industry (n = 380), this study investigates the status quo of the implementation of New Work measures and their effectiveness in helping companies reach organizational goals. The results show that New Work measures are widely adopted although there is still unused potential. Moreover, the study demonstrates that the implementation of New Work measures supports companies in achieving New Work goals as well as overall organizational goals in the contexts of agile management, change management, internal communication, and evaluation.
Chapter
Full-text available
The major goal of green technology is to lessen the greenhouse effect and control global warming. Hence, the main idea is to come up with new inventions that do not deplete natural resources. The research, here, is attempted to examine the factors influencing consumers to purchase hybrid cars like environmentally friendlier automobiles that are gaining more popularity. Hybrid car is a vehicle that uses at least two or more power supply as to make the vehicle move. The combination of an internal combustion engine and electric motors is one of the uniqueness owned by hybrid cars. This study discusses various theoretical models and proposes a conceptual model based on those theories, especially on UTAUT2 (Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology) which adapted and identified seven independent variables (performance expectancy, social influence, environmental concern, price value, hedonic motivation, facilitating conditions, and health benefit) and one dependent variable (behavioral intention to purchase) from the related literatures. Though there is huge importance or advantages of hybrid cars, there have been many people in Bangladesh till now who are not currently buying/using hybrid cars. This study is significant and rationale in environmental, marketers, and economic perspective. The expected outcome of this study will enhance new understanding on the profile of Bangladeshi consumers in purchasing hybrid cars as well as marketers, and policymakers can take opportunity to take decisions by utilizing the findings of this study.KeywordsHybrid carUTAUT2Conceptual modelBangladesh
Chapter
Although digital nomadism is already an old concept, its visibility has recently become popular, and there are still very few scientific studies developed in this area. This research offers a significant contribution, to the systematization of this concept as it explored the origin of this phenomenon, the characteristics associated with the digital nomad and their preferences regarding destinations. The study provides a set of valuable insights that the entities responsible for destination management might use to format their offer in order to gain attractiveness towards this tourist segment.KeywordsDigital nomadsDestinationsTourismTechnology
Article
Full-text available
Coworking spaces (CSs) have gained significant attention in the last decades as an alternative to traditional offices and homes. These spaces offer a flexible and collaborative environment that caters to the needs of freelancers, entrepreneurs, and remote workers. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review academic literature to investigate how CSs contribute to workers' quality of working life (QWL) and wellbeing. Literature is analysed thematically following the QWL framework proposed by Walton (1973). The findings of this review suggest that CSs may act as a quasi-organisation by emulating the role traditionally undertaken by employers contributing to different aspects of workers’ QWL, which ultimately affect their wellbeing. CSs’ contribution largely depends on the different material features of the spaces, the services offered, the work culture promoted, the curation activity of the host, the coworking members, and the complex interrelation among all these elements. In the conclusive section, the review identifies potential research gaps and areas for future research in this field.
Article
Full-text available
The effectiveness of employees in architectural firms is significantly influenced by office design; nevertheless, this study is only applicable to architectural enterprises in Qasimabad, Hyderabad. These companies are well-known in Hyderabad and are regarded as the best for working conditions and experience-building. To recruit staff, other businesses mostly idealize these businesses. Employee efficiency, job satisfaction, and productivity are all significantly impacted by the workplace. It has been noted that poorly planned office spaces that don't consider how the space is divided within a building can cause significant physical and mental distress in workers. The objective of the study consists of determining the factors which leads to a poorly designed office, the determination of the factors into two categories of physical and mental factors and the recommendations or solutions which suit the environment of offices in Hyderabad. After that, a questionnaire study was carried out to further investigate how office layout affected employees' productivity at architecture businesses. The questionnaire was created in a way that it covered all the important aspects that have an impact on the employees' physical and mental health. Structured observations were used to gather the data, along with physical surveys of the chosen companies. After the obtained data were processed using SPSS software and Microsoft Excel, the levels of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with the workplace design were quantified using a 5-point Likert scale and Yeh's satisfaction index model. The study recommends key design elements that must be considered when creating an office layout so that employees may work in an atmosphere that increases employee enthusiasm and productivity, a layout that prevents the physical and emotional harm that an unergonomically planned setting causes. The typical employee in an architectural firm spends up to 7 to 8 hours per day at his or her desk, glued to the computer. As technology has advanced, architectural work now primarily involves computers, which is not the ideal work environment because it limits employee interaction and has negative effects on their physical and mental well-being. As a result, the architect's ability to be creative is restricted, and health issues including eye tiredness, backache, and depression develop. Any kind of physical exertion is limited by the persistent inactivity. The key design priority is creating places that are functional, making them a comfortable area with well-lit, well ventilated, and aesthetically pleasing aspects for the architects that help them think creatively, enhance motivation, and optimize their production. Both favourably and negatively designed settings have an impact on health, as does a well-planned environment. To create a comfortable workplace that boosts productivity, the elements that make an architectural office an ineffective design must be examined.
Article
Full-text available
As a result of the rural exodus over the last decades, unused vacancies in rural areas are at risk of falling into disrepair. Given the current trends of flexible workplaces and people returning to rural areas, their repurposing as coworking spaces (CWSs) by entrepreneurs poses a potential for sustainable future-oriented workplace solutions. However, there is little to no guidance on the structural configuration and business models of CWSs in rural areas available for these entrepreneurs. We apply a structured empirical research approach to create a comprehensive and specialized taxonomy, including a literature review and eleven interviews with operators of rural CWSs in Germany. The resulting taxonomy of business models of CWSs in rural areas based on an extension of the business model canvas contributes to the knowledge base on rural CWSs. We evaluate its usability through a case study and an entrepreneurial operator of a rural CWS, underlining its entrepreneurial and practice-oriented purpose. The study addresses several urgent topics, such as the future of work and new work (places), which enable and accelerate the development of CWSs outside agglomerations consequential to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also promotes social and sustainable entrepreneurship and the revitalizing, enhancing, and increasing of digital accessibility of rural regions.
Chapter
Full-text available
Todo o conteúdo deste livro está licenciado sob uma Licença de Atribuição Creative Commons. Atribuição-Não-Comercial-NãoDerivativos 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). O conteúdo dos artigos e seus dados em sua forma, correção e confiabilidade são de responsabilidade exclusiva dos autores, inclusive não representam necessariamente a posição oficial da Atena Editora. Permitido o download da obra e o compartilhamento desde que sejam atribuídos créditos aos autores, mas sem a possibilidade de alterá-la de nenhuma forma ou utilizá-la para fins comerciais. Todos os manuscritos foram previamente submetidos à avaliação cega pelos pares, membros do Conselho Editorial desta Editora, tendo sido aprovados para a publicação com base em critérios de neutralidade e imparcialidade acadêmica. A Atena Editora é comprometida em garantir a integridade editorial em todas as etapas do processo de publicação, evitando plágio, dados ou resultados fraudulentos e impedindo que interesses financeiros comprometam os padrões éticos da publicação. Situações suspeitas de má conduta científica serão investigadas sob o mais alto padrão de rigor acadêmico e ético.
Chapter
In order to better understand the psychosocial issues and the impact of the implementation of the new workspaces, this chapter looks at the definition of coworking spaces by specifying the initial objectives of these places, their characteristics and the profiles and motivations of their users. It explains the effects of these spaces on work, particularly in terms of performance and productivity, socialization and the articulation between work and “non‐work”. Coworking spaces are structured spaces of tacit cooperation between actors who plan meetings and re‐groupings on these sites in order to cooperate on common projects. It is precisely this sense of community that ensures satisfaction among coworkers because it helps them to avoid isolation and develop or strengthen relational networks. Research must be developed in the medium‐term to measure the scope and limits of coworking from the point of view of work, quality of life, reconciliation of work–life balance, and on the issue of coworker precariousness.
Article
Full-text available
Purpose This paper aims to explore the impact of workplaces, which support concentration and communication, and self-management practices on individual and team productivity. The underlying hypothesis is that the impact of these variables on the two levels of productivity (individual and team) and the two dimensions of productivity (quantity and quality) may be different. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on survey data from 998 Finnish knowledge workers. Factor analysis was used to test the dimensions of the conceptual model. Insights into the impact of workplaces for concentration and communications and self-management practices on productivity were obtained by multiple-regression analyses. Findings The findings show that self-management practices have a larger impact on the quality and quantity of individual output and the quantity of team output than workplaces for communication and concentration. Improving self-management skills is key to increase all productivity dimensions and in particular the quality of the output. Practical implications This paper contributes to a better understanding of the impact of workplace characteristics and self-management practices on different levels and dimensions of productivity. It offers valuable lessons for managers, as they are able to recognize how productivity can be approached from several perspectives. Different dimensions can be enhanced using different workplace settings. For example, the quantitative output of employees can be increased by adding more space for concentration, while quantitative team productivity can be increased by providing appropriate space for collaboration. An important means to enhance a higher quality of the output is to improve self-management skills. The findings also suggest that collaboration between different disciplines – corporate management, corporate real estate management, human resource management and IT – is needed to optimize individual and team productivity. Originality/value This paper explores work environment experiences of Finnish office workers and connects both workplace appraisal and work practices to perceived productivity support, on individual level and team level. It also adds insights into the different impacts on quantity and quality.
Article
Full-text available
The aim of this article is to explain the gap between high social expectations, particularly in terms of reducing commuting frequency, increasing productivity and improving work-life balance, and the reality of home-based telework. We use three French databases which give information about employers but also employees. We highlight that telework is not only a fairly restricted phenomenon but also one that lacks impetus; it is mainly an informal working arrangement. The main reasons raised by both employees and employers are the uncertain advantages coupled with immediate disadvantages. The conclusion examines different contextual factors that could alter this cost-benefits dilemma and foster the development of home-based telework.
Article
Full-text available
Purpose This paper aims to categorize the typologies of co-working spaces and describe their main characteristics. Design/methodology/approach The aim is reached by means of analyzing 15 co-working spaces located in the capital area of Finland. The data used consist of interviews, websites, event presentations and brochures. Findings As a result, six co-working space typologies were identified: public offices, third places, collaboration hubs, co-working hotels, incubators and shared studios. The categorization was made by using two axes: business model (for profit and non-profit) and level of user access (public, semi-private and private). Research limitations/implications The results provide a viewpoint on how co-working spaces can be categorized. Practical implications In practise, the results can be applied by all stakeholders who are working with alternative workplace solutions to respond to the needs of new ways of working, especially via workplace services for multi-locational and flexible working, including facilities managers, corporate real estate executives and designers. Originality/value This research builds on the previous academic literature on co-working spaces by making the phenomena more explicit for researchers and practitioners who are facing the challenges of developing new alternative workplace offerings.
Article
Full-text available
The ICT revolution fueled by the exponential progress of the semiconductor technology and the accelerated pace of globalization has become an important driver of economic growth across nations. In this rapidly changing landscape, the world economy is entering into a New Economic Order, in which developing Asia led by two fast-growing giant economies, China and India, will have much larger impacts on the world economy. This paper provides empirical evidence on these phenomena and highlights policy issues that deem important for a country to seize the ICT revolution for promoting economic growth.
Article
Full-text available
Internet-based scenarios, like co-working, e-freelancing, or crowdsourcing, usually need supporting collaboration among several actors that compete to service tasks. Moreover , the distribution of service requests, i.e., the arrival rate, varies over time, as well as the service workload required by each customer. In these scenarios, coalitions can be used to help agents to manage tasks they cannot tackle individually. In this paper we present a model to build and adapt coalitions with the goal of improving the quality and the quantity of tasks completed. The key contribution is a decision making mechanism that uses reputation and adaptation to allow agents in a competitive environment to autonomously enact and sustain coalitions, not only its composition, but also its number , i.e., how many coalitions are necessary. We provide empirical evidence showing that when agents employ our mechanism it is possible for them to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction. First, we show that coalitions keep a high percentage of tasks serviced on time despite a high percentage of unreliable workers. Second, coalitions and agents demonstrate that they successfully adapt to a varying distribution of customers' incoming tasks. This occurs because our decision making mechanism facilitates coalitions to disband when they become non-competitive, and individual agents detect opportunities to start new coalitions in scenarios with high task demand.
Article
Full-text available
The prevalence of telework and other forms of mobile working enabled by digital technology is increasing markedly. Following a socio-technical systems approach, this study aims to examine the role of organisational social support and specific support for teleworkers in influencing teleworker wellbeing, the mediating role of social isolation, potentially resulting from a person-environment mismatch in these relationships, and possible differences in these relationships between low-intensity and hybrid teleworkers. Teleworkers' (n = 804) perceptions of support and telework outcomes (psychological strain, job satisfaction, and social isolation) were collected using an on-line survey of teleworking employees distributed within 28 New Zealand organisations where knowledge work was undertaken. Organisational social support and teleworker support was associated with increased job satisfaction and reduced psychological strain. Social isolation mediated the relationship between organisational social support and the two outcome variables, and some differences were observed in the structural relationships for hybrid and low-intensity teleworker sub-samples. These findings suggest that providing the necessary organisational and teleworker support is important for enhancing the teleworker-environment fit and thereby ensuring desirable telework outcomes.
Article
Full-text available
Teleworking has become increasingly popular in organizations around the world. Despite this trend towards working outside of the traditional office setting, research has not yet examined how people feel (i.e., their affective experiences) on days when working at home versus in the office. Using a sample of 102 employees from a large US government agency, we employed a within-person design to test hypotheses about the relationship between teleworking and affective well-being. We also examined four individual differences (openness to experience, rumination, sensation seeking, and social connectedness outside of work) as cross-level moderators. Results show that employees experience more job-related positive affective well-being (PAWB) and less job-related negative affective well-being (NAWB) on days when they were teleworking compared to days they were working in the office. Findings show that several of the individual differences moderated the relationships. Discussion focuses on the need to consider the affective consequences of telework and the characteristics that determine who will benefit more or less from working at home.
Article
Full-text available
Coworking Centre is a concept of joint use of space by individuals working in related spheres that seek their chance in the labour market as freelancers. The strategy for the development of creative region mentions coworking centres as one of its tools. This article aims to create a business model of the Coworking Design Centre. By simulating a coworking centre model we are increasing knowledge of the culture managers about this type of business. We have introduced teaching business using the system dynamics modelling for students of art disciplines in order to raise the level of economic education, awareness and success in business through the Coworking Design Centre.
Article
Full-text available
People no longer work as they worked 15 years ago. One of the major changes, as Laing (2013) stated, is that the employee no longer has to go to work, but information technology brings the work to the employee. Due to the independency of work from time and place, employees are working in a new way in multiple locations. For service providers, this offers a new business field. Thus, the paper focuses on this new business opportunity. The aim of the paper is to identify the business potential to build up and elaborate the workplace service business. Interviews with national workplace service providers and international workplace experts were conducted in order to get practical insight on the topic. Based on the interviews, two development steps are required to utilise the new business opportunity: (1) the transaction-oriented way to provide workplace services should be substituted by new business models, and (2) the workplace service should be re-thought and re-designed as a service that is not solely dependent on physical space. Based on the new business model and service, a new business opportunity could be harnessed.
Article
Full-text available
Over the past few years, shared spaces for students, entrepreneurs and faculty have become popular on university campuses. This study aims at increasing understanding on how a new co-working space is developed on campus, and what the different stakeholders’ roles are in the development process. The single case study is a recently emerged ‘learning, networking, and innovation platform’ for energy, named the Energy Garage. The Energy Garage is available to all university students, faculty, and businesses with an interest in energy related topics. Using archived material and interviews with key stakeholders, the study analyses the development path of the Energy Garage, placing special focus on the role of students during the different phases. The study finds that, while the initiative for Energy Garage came from faculty, students have successfully been given a major role in the planning and operational management of the space. The findings provide an insight into other similar initiatives, which continue to gain popularity on university campuses.
Article
Full-text available
Purpose – This research aims to aggregate and categorise distinct places for multi-locational work from the 1960s until today. Based on an understanding of the user needs connected to these locations, the paper aims to identify the service concepts and workplace design solutions by which these needs can be met. Design/methodology/approach – The literature review is based on academic journal papers, reports and books related to the topic. Findings – The paper categorises the main multi-locational workplace locations, namely, organisational offices, home offices, mobile workplaces and flexible offices. The user needs in these locations vary from concept to concept, and therefore, the service offers are distinct. Based on the results, the service provision of organisational offices and flexible offices should focus on providing users with the chance for socialisation using collaborative space solutions and community management policies. In the cases of home offices and mobile workplaces, service provision should instead emphasise ensuring functionalities such as efficient virtual connectivity and accessibility. Additionally, more concept-specific user needs are identified. Research limitations/implications – The paper offers an overview of and framework for future research and concept development. The limitations of cultural differences could have been investigated more. Practical implications – The results provide insight into the purposes of facilities management and workplace design when developing service concepts for multi-locational workplaces. Originality/value – The paper establishes a literature-based framework for the service concepts of places for multi-locational work.
Article
Full-text available
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test empirically whether there exist spillover externalities in job satisfaction, i.e., to test whether individual-level job satisfaction is affected by the aggregate job satisfaction level in a certain labor market environment. Design/methodology/approach – The authors use a linear-in-means model of social interactions in the empirical analysis. The authors develop an original strategy, motivated by the hierarchical models of social processes, to identify the parameters of interest. BHPS and WERS datasets are used to perform the estimations both at the establishment and local labor market levels. Findings – The authors find that one standard deviation increase in aggregate job satisfaction leads to a 0.42 standard deviation increase in individual-level job satisfaction at the workplace level and a 0.15 standard deviation increase in individual-level job satisfaction at the local labor market level. In other words, the authors report that statistically significant job satisfaction spillovers exist both at the establishment level and local labor market level; and, the former being approximately three times larger than the latter. Originality/value – First, this is the first paper in the literature estimating spillover effects in job satisfaction. Second, the authors show that the degree of these spillover externalities may change at different aggregation levels. Finally, motivated by the hierarchical models of social processes, the author develop an original econometric identification strategy.
Article
Full-text available
Workforce diversity means similarities and differences among employees in terms of age, cultural background, physical abilities and disabilities, race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. No two humans are alike. People are different in not only gender, culture, race, social and psychological characteristics but also in their perspectives and prejudices. Society had discriminated on these aspects for centuries. Diversity makes the work force heterogeneous. In current scenario, employing diversified workforce is a necessity for every organization but to manage such diversified workforce is also a big challenge for management. This paper critically analyses the workforce diversity and its impact on productivity of an organization. The researcher after examining the literature and various research papers, concluded that workforce diversity is strength for any organization but people still stick to their views related to caste, religion etc and so consider diversity as a problem but if managed properly, can increase the productivity.
Article
Full-text available
Purpose This paper aims to inform design strategies for smart space technology to enhance libraries as environments for coworking and informal social learning. The focus is on understanding user motivations, behaviour, and activities in the library when there is no programmed agenda. Design/methodology/approach The study analyses gathered data over five months of ethnographic research at The Edge – a “bookless” library space at the State Library of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, that is explicitly dedicated to coworking, social learning, peer collaboration, and creativity around digital culture and technology. Findings The results present five personas that embody people's main usage patterns as well as motivations, attitudes, and perceived barriers to social learning. It appears that most users work individually or within pre‐organised groups, but usually do not make new connections with co‐present, unacquainted users. Based on the personas, four hybrid design dimensions are suggested to improve the library as a social interface for shared learning encounters across physical and digital spaces. Originality/value The findings in this paper offer actionable knowledge for managers, decision makers, and designers of technology‐enhanced library spaces and similar collaboration and coworking spaces.
Article
Full-text available
Open-plan office layout is commonly assumed to facilitate communication and interaction between co-workers, promoting workplace satisfaction and team-work effectiveness. On the other hand, open-plan layouts are widely acknowledged to be more disruptive due to uncontrollable noise and loss of privacy. Based on the occupant survey database from Center for the Built Environment (CBE), empirical analyses indicated that occupants assessed Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) issues in different ways depending on the spatial configuration (classified by the degree of enclosure) of their workspace. Enclosed private offices clearly outperformed open-plan layouts in most aspects of IEQ, particularly in acoustics, privacy and the proxemics issues. Benefits of enhanced ‘ease of interaction’ were smaller than the penalties of increased noise level and decreased privacy resulting from open-plan office configuration.
Article
Full-text available
Mobile professionals can choose to work in offices, executive suites, home offices, or other spaces. But some have instead chosen to work at coworking spaces: open-plan office environments in which they work alongside other unaffiliated professionals for a fee of approximately $250 a month. But what service are they actually purchasing with that monthly fee? How do they describe that service? From an activity theory perspective, what are its object, outcome, and actors? This article reports on a 20-month study that answers such questions.
Article
Full-text available
In this article, we provide guidance for substantive researchers on the use of structural equation modeling in practice for theory testing and development. We present a comprehensive, two-step modeling approach that employs a series of nested models and sequential chi-square difference tests. We discuss the comparative advantages of this approach over a one-step approach. Considerations in specification, assessment of fit, and respecification of measurement models using confirmatory factor analysis are reviewed. As background to the two-step approach, the distinction between exploratory and confirmatory analysis, the distinction between complementary approaches for theory testing versus predictive application, and some developments in estimation methods also are discussed.
Article
Full-text available
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the importance of user perceptions within an organisational context, and more specifically, how user perceptions are evidenced and positively applied within facilities management (FM). Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual approach is adopted suggesting that user perceptions should be viewed as a holistic process within FM. Via comprehensive literature reviews the paper determines the importance of user perceptions, first, in the context of the user achieving productivity in the workplace as their input and functionalities within the physical environment can inevitably enhance their later experience, and second, in the context of the user later achieving customer satisfaction via strategic FM delivery. Findings – Argues that user perceptions in FM can be analysed through a two‐fold approach: user perception through their input and functionalities in the workplace, and their consequent application of workplace productivity; and user perception through strategic FM delivery and the achievement of customer satisfaction. Identifies an intrinsic linkage between the two and how they are integral to the overall strategic FM process. Originality/value – Strategic FM delivery is now essential for business survival, where the impetus on ensuring high customer satisfaction coupled with high workplace productivity is illustrated via the “logical customer performance ladder” (LCPL). This paper provides an intriguing insight into how both of these crucial factors can be strategically implemented into FM.
Article
Full-text available
Purpose – The aim of this paper is to provide a validated theoretical framework for the measurement of office productivity. Design/methodology/approach – The study's strength is that it is based on two sizable data sets. The data collected consists of data about the physical characteristics of the office environment and data pertaining to the behavioural environment. Findings – One of the key contributions of this study was the development of the components of office productivity, which were: comfort, office layout, informal interaction points, environmental services, designated areas, interaction and distraction. The components were reduced to four in preparation for subsequent analysis. The four distinct components were comfort, office layout, interaction and distraction. Originality/value – This study establishes that it is the behavioural environment that has the greatest impact on office productivity. It demonstrates that it is the dynamic elements of the office environment, interaction and distraction that are perceived as having the greatest positive and negative influences on self assessed productivity.
Article
Full-text available
The last decade has witnessed the introduction of non-territorial offices with desk sharing and desk rotation linked to different job functions and working processes. This paper discusses the motives behind the application of these new concepts, potential costs and benefits and data on accommodation costs. A framework of potential costs and benefits is presented and illustrated by data from cost analyses and post-occupancy evaluations of new offices. The author advocates the creation of an integral framework of (potential) costs and benefits, structured according to the principles of the balanced score card. This may help decision makers to set priorities in objectives and to anticipate on effects of interventions in office accommodation. Empirical data on costs and benefits of innovative workplace design are scarce. The framework according to the balanced score card should be explored further by interviewing experts from different organisations. The integral framework is new. The conceptual framework and data from empirical research may support decision making.
Article
Full-text available
Purpose This paper aims to establish if office occupiers, who adopt different work patterns, can be segmented based on differences of perceived productivity with regards to the physical environment and the behavioural environment. Design/methodology/approach Components of office productivity were used in an office productivity model with categorical data enabling a unique opportunity to undertake an analysis of office occupiers by work process type. Findings The four distinct evaluative components used were comfort, office layout, interaction and distraction. The components were subsequently used for more detailed statistical analysis. This study establishes that statistical differences exist between the work styles under investigation. Research limitations/implications This research establishes that to truly appreciate office productivity there is a need to further understand the way that people work in offices and their specific requirements. The matching of office occupier need with space provision can only be achieved if the office occupier is involved in the creation of the office solution. Originality/value This study demonstrates that there is a need to consider how the office environment matches the work patterns of the office occupiers. This understanding of how the office works could be considered as establishing the office landscape or “officescape”.
Article
Full-text available
Purpose This paper aims to explore the relationship between aspects of aesthetics and the performance of organizations. It outlines a research agenda for studying the impact of aesthetic factors upon organizational design and change. Design/methodology/approach In the paper, a set of seven propositions is developed to address various aspects of organizational performance that are influenced by beauty in organizations. These propositions are based on a distinction between the concepts process aesthetics, product aesthetics and aesthetic sensibility. Findings The hypotheses suggest that organizational performance might be enhanced by the beauty of products and services, and indirectly by the aesthetics of organizational work processes, organizational structures, the personal well‐being of employees and organizational designers with a high degree of aesthetic sensibility. Research limitations/implications The hypothesis in this paper should be tested by future researchers. Practical implications The paper might enhance the awareness of practitioners of the practical value of aesthetics Originality/value The paper adds to the new field of organizational aesthetics a performance‐oriented approach based on a design perspective.
Article
Full-text available
New information technologies are constructing living and working environments that people often find disorienting. This can be seen as a general effect of the introduction of new artifacts that disrupt preexisting routines and destroy the previous distribution of work. Communities have to cope with unprecedented environments by developing imagination as a cultural resource, allowing them to make sense of the ambiguous situations created by new computer technologies. New computer artifacts alter not only the social fabric of the communities in which they are adopted, but also the kind of relations that tools once had with human minds. Both processes-the appearance of uncharted environments and the emergence of an intimate technology-emphasize the function of semiotic mediation involved in artifact use. Making sense of new environments (such as shared virtual environments designed to support distant coworking) means making them part of the sociocultural network that maintains real communities and reconfiguring in imaginative ways the existing sociocultural networks. Copyright © 2000, Regents of the University of California on behalf of the Laboratory of Comparative Human Cognition.
Article
Full-text available
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine differences in work‐life balance (WLB) support, job satisfaction, and inclusion as a function of work location. Design/methodology/approach Web‐based survey data were provided by 578 employees working at one of four locations (main office, client location, satellite office, and home). Multiple regression analyses were used to identify differences in WLB support, job satisfaction, and inclusion across employees working at the four locations. Findings Results showed that main office and home‐based workers had similar high levels of WLB support and job satisfaction. Main office workers reported higher levels of WLB support than satellite and client‐based workers. Additionally, main office workers reported the highest levels of workplace inclusion. Research limitations/ implications Data were originally gathered for practical purposes by the organization. The research design does not allow for manipulation or random assignment, therefore extraneous variables may have impacted the observed relationships. Practical implications Allowing employees flexibility in choosing their work locations is related to positive outcomes. The authors suggest several practices for the effective implementation of alternative work arrangements. Originality/value This paper is among the first to examine the outcomes of telework across locations. It uses a large single organization and a quasi‐experimental design, enhancing the validity of the findings.
Article
Full-text available
Purpose Recent economic research has focused on the economic effects of the social environment. In the economic literature, important phenomena are considered, at least in part, as results of the individual's social environment. There is a similar revival of interest among economists who analyse the world of science and basic research. In this case as well, the environment plays a key role in the agent's behaviour. This paper aims at an empirical analysis of the influence of social interactions on scientists' productivity. Design/methodology/approach In the econometric analysis the authors investigate the aggregate importance of social interactions in science through the analysis of data on publications in four scientific fields of seven advanced countries. The paper builds a dynamic autoregressive model which provides long‐run multipliers. The model is estimated with a panel fixed effects methodology. Findings Social interactions among researchers have positive effects on a scientist's productivity, and there is a U‐shaped relation between the size of a scientific network and individual productivity. This result is interpreted as providing evidence for threshold externalities and increasing returns to scale. Research limitations/implications Other better indicators of social interactions in science should be found and used in estimates. The set of countries and fields should be enlarged. Originality/value The paper represents the first econometric investigation of the issue at country level, and provides interesting results which are new for the economic literature.
Article
The statistical tests used in the analysis of structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error are examined. A drawback of the commonly applied chi square test, in addition to the known problems related to sample size and power, is that it may indicate an increasing correspondence between the hypothesized model and the observed data as both the measurement properties and the relationship between constructs decline. Further, and contrary to common assertion, the risk of making a Type II error can be substantial even when the sample size is large. Moreover, the present testing methods are unable to assess a model's explanatory power. To overcome these problems, the authors develop and apply a testing system based on measures of shared variance within the structural model, measurement model, and overall model.
Article
Within the rising access economy, products that were traditionally owned are now accessed, shared, rented or swapped. A recent research has shown that access-based consumption, when consumers pay a fee to have access to a product or service, threatens the relationship between consumers and objects. Specifically, access prevents consumers from enacting practices of appropriation and from gaining anything other than utility from this type of consumption. To address this issue, this research draws on the discipline of design and the theory of practice to examine how users form relationships with objects they use. Design, by changing consumer practices, could be the key in restoring the relationship between users and accessed objects. This article looks at a Parisian car sharing system to understand the role of design in restoring this relationship.
Article
Purpose Although new forms of innovation such as open innovation, user innovation or crowdsourcing have been intensively discussed in the past decade, there is little systematic exploration of their wider positive and negative effects on economy, society and environment. Based on the recent debate in the literature and findings from a European foresight project, this paper aims to discuss the critical aspects of new forms of innovation such as increased participation, the use of information technologies and the increased pace of innovation and their challenges for innovation policy. Design/methodology/approach Based on a collection of international practice examples from industry and society, innovation visions have been generated and assessed by different experts across whole Europe. Findings A generic trend identified can be best described as open, distributed and networked innovation process. Although many new innovation models accelerate the innovation process, there are also some counter trends which in some fields may slow down the innovation process. In addition, the increased use of web-based tools, algorithms and information technologies raises new questions concerning the protection of intellectual property and data security. This reveals new questions for policymaking, which have not gained much attention on the European level so far. Originality/value Although there is an established discourse around potentially negative impacts of the outcomes of the innovation processes notably in the field of technology assessment, innovation capacity is usually seen as a desirable characteristic of innovation systems. In this paper, the possible negative aspects of new innovation models, an issue hardly addressed in the innovation literature so far, are discussed.
Chapter
This chapter puts forward the elements of service environment termed as ‘servicescape’ that will influence the behavioural intentions (loyalty, word of mouth, and recommendation) in service organizations, which provides service environment as their predominant offering. Interestingly, there is a growing group of service firms where consumers pay to consume the environment rather treating the environment as a facilitator of their purchase of merchandise or services. One such service environment focused business is the coworking spaces. They are business that offers the physical and social environment for consumption. It is an environment where creative, entrepreneurs and knowledge workers work in a commercial space, work on flexible work stations with a host of facilities at their disposal. These coworking spaces are designed to create a productive physical and social atmosphere. We propose an enriched servicescape framework specific to this industry and label it as ‘Coworkingscape’. The conceptual focus of this chapter enables contribution in the field of service environment marketing and management. The practical implication of this chapter will be of help to coworking space providers/managers to further plan, design and manage the coworking spaces.
Article
Mobile internet access allows for flexibility with respect to working time and working place. We analyse whether employees' use of mobile internet access improves firms’ labour productivity. Our data set contains 2143 German firms and refers to the year 2014, when high-speed mobile internet was still at a relatively early stage of diffusion within firms. The econometric analysis shows that firms' labour productivity significantly increases with the share of employees with mobile internet access. Our instrumental variables approach suggests that mobile internet use does cause higher labour productivity.
Article
A large number of information security breaches in the workplace result from employees’ failure to comply with organizational information security guidelines. Recent surveys report that 78% of computer attacks appear in the form of viruses embedded in email attachments. Employees who open e-mail attachments from unknown sources risk infecting their own computers as well as other computers sharing the same network. Therefore, more attention needs to be paid to learning why non-compliant behavior takes place so that appropriate measures for curbing the occurrence of such behavior can be found. With such motivation in mind, this study examines the effects of social contextual factors on employees’ compliance with organizational security policies. The research model is developed based on concepts adapted from safety climate literature that has been used to explain the safe behavior of employees in organizations. Data was collected from a sample of 140 employees from two large IT intensive organizations using a 28- item survey instrument and analyzed using structured equation modeling. Management practices, supervisory practices, and coworker’s socialization were found to be positively related to employees’ perception of information security climate in the organization. Perception of security climate and self-efficacy had positive impacts on compliant behavior. Implications of this study for research and practice are discussed.
Article
This paper presents research findings and design strategies that illustrate how digital technology can be applied as a tool for hybrid placemaking in ways that would not be possible in purely digital or physical spaces. Digital technology has revolutionised the way people learn and gather new information. This trend has challenged the role of the library as a physical place, as well as the interplay of digital and physical aspects of the library. The paper provides an overview of how the penetration of digital technology into everyday life has affected the library as a place, both as designed by placemakers and as perceived by library users. It then identifies a gap in current library research about the use of digital technology as a tool for placemaking, and reports results from a study of Gelatine – a custom-built user check-in system that displays real-time user information on a set of public screens. Gelatine and its evaluation at The Edge, at the State Library of Queensland, illustrates how combining affordances of social, spatial and digital space can improve the connected learning experience among on-site visitors. Future design strategies involving gamifying the user experience in libraries are described based on Gelatine's infrastructure. The presented design ideas and concepts are relevant for managers and designers of libraries, as well as other informal, social learning environments.
Article
Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine degree of job satisfaction of the University of Athen’s (UOA) administrative staff, specifically regarding the workplace and its impact on their productivity. Design/methodology/approach – Questionnaires were distributed to 160 administrative personnel of the UOA. The study entails descriptive analysis, independent samples t -tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlations (two-tailed) and regression analysis of the data collected. Findings – The results indicate that the UOA’s administrative staff is dissatisfied with most aspects of their workplace, which is characterized by an inability to encourage and support new forms of office work. This scenario was also found to have a negative effect on productivity. In addition, regression analysis showed that satisfaction with the workplace is a significant predictor of employee productivity. Research limitations/implications – A limitation of this study is that the sample was not from the UOA administrative staff that works in more recently constructed office buildings away from the Athens city center. Further investigation would also be needed to identify possible differences in satisfaction with the workspace and its impact on productivity, based on demographic characteristics, such as the level of education and years of employment. Practical implications – The research results may be useful to public institution administrations like that of the UOA, as it highlights changes in the workplace which can have significant impact on employee job satisfaction and productivity, and consequently, the efficiency and effectiveness of the services provided. Originality/value – This study examines aspects of the workspace of a public organization regarding their individual attributes. Given that the existing Greek literature in this field does not contain a discussion on the impact of the workplace on job satisfaction and productivity as far as the public sector is concerned, this paper may contribute to a smoother and more efficient provision of services from its organizations/institutions.
Article
Reflecting on experiences of coresearching with young people aged 13 to 15 in evaluating a government-funded initiative within their own communities, the author explores both some of the consequences of this endeavor and learnings from reflections on research processes therein. Reflections upon lessons learned are analyzed through applying some key concepts from complexity science to the research. It is argued that complexity science assists in reflection and in reaching more in-depth understandings of research processes. The author outlines how these concepts could be applied in research more generally and concludes that learnings from this experience are relevant to researchers everywhere.
Article
Purpose – The purpose of this case study is to describe the space transformation of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Library (HKUST Library) into a learning commons and how learning activities have been substantially multiplied by engaging academic and supporting units. This experience is used to posit a number of anticipated directions for library space planning. Design/methodology/approach – This paper focuses on the design elements of the learning commons and how these elements have created an effective platform for a variety of learning activities. It outlines an assessment study on how students liked the transformed space and viewed its added values. Findings – In the digital era, academic libraries can be transformed for new, effective and collaborative use. By integrating technology and flexible design, the new space excites existing scholars and attracts a broad range of new users. Students, faculty and administrators react positively to the new space, as it offers effective learning ambience. By engaging and co-creating with university partners, the new space functions as an active facilitator of learning – a hub that supports interaction and an effective platform to support pedagogy towards team projects, multimedia work and whole-person development. Future library spaces need to exhibit characteristics tailored to various user groups and their specific usage needs. Originality/value – The experience of the HKUST library will have broader implications for other academic libraries embracing their mission-critical nature and assets. It shows that libraries can embrace challenges in the digital and virtual world by creative and innovative use of their physical space.
Article
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the debate on the development of academic libraries, by the introduction of the concepts of co-working and innovation to the learning centres. Design/methodology/approach – The paper builds on published case studies and French initiatives. Findings – The proposal of this paper is that the academic library can meet its social responsibility on the campus and in society by drawing on the model of the co-working spaces and communities, by the support of innovation and the transfer of knowledge to the world of work. Moreover, the proposal is to include these new functions into the concept of learning centre, i.e. to develop the work-related aspects of the learning centre. Research limitations/implications – Future research on academic libraries should focus on social responsibility and their contribution not only to students’ academic success but also to students’ employability and to the transfer of technology. Practical implications – The paper contributes to the development and marketing of new academic library services and to its strategic positioning on the campus. Originality/value – Co-working and innovation are relatively new but promising concepts for academic libraries. Except for some recent case studies, conceptual papers are still missing that combine empirical experience with a theoretical approach.
Article
Social networking sites (SNSs) are the most popular social platforms for developing personal networks. They provide multiple interactive functions for users to create and use large social networks. To determine why people exhibit ‘stickiness’ to SNSs, this study uses the uses and gratifications theory as an underlying structure and builds the research model with factors of motivational needs and interactivity. Our results showed that social needs, information needs, human–message interaction, and human–human interaction are crucial factors that affect the ‘stickiness’ of users to SNSs. The implications of these findings are presented in this paper.
Article
Drawing from Uses and Gratifications Theory, this study explores the influence of the gratifications derived from use of the social networking site Qzone on Chinese adolescents’ positive mood. Qzone is the social networking site that is most preferred and used by Chinese adolescents. Hypothesized relationships are analyzed by structural equation analysis in a sample of 220 Chinese adolescents aged 14–19 with an online Qzone profile. Gratifications that Chinese adolescents receive from use of the online social network Qzone, such as socializing, information-seeking, and entertainment are found to have a significantly positive influence on their positive mood. Findings of this study extend the existing theoretical framework on the application of the Uses and Gratifications Theory to social networking sites. In addition, findings are in line with those of a number of authors who suggest that social networking site use may have positive consequences for teenagers. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Article
Advances in technology, changes in demographics, and the increasingly global nature of the economy indicate that many jobs lost during the recent global recession will not be returning. Regardless of their major field of study, college students would benefit greatly from becoming more entrepreneurial in their thinking, yet opportunities for developing entrepreneurial behaviors on campus, especially for non-business majors, are few. This article describes a coworking project, from creation to follow-up survey, which aimed to create a space within the campus academic library to encourage student, faculty, and entrepreneur collaboration and interaction while demonstrating the economic value of the library.
Article
In the light of the increasing use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), it is important to gain a better understanding of their influence on work–life boundaries. This study examines how individuals manage their work–life boundaries by using ICTs. The findings of a qualitative study with independent contractors show that individuals actively use multiple ICT-mediated tactics to shape their temporal, spatial and psychological work–life boundaries. Furthermore, findings suggest that individuals cannot simply be classified as ‘integrators’ or ‘segmentors’, as they may have diverse preferences with regard to both the dimension (temporal, spatial or psychological) and direction (work-to-life or life-to-work) of boundary permeability. A framework that takes account of these aspects is derived based on the empirical results.