Creating the workplace of the future
Creating engaging and meaningful workspaces: How companies are navigating office constructs to foster work-life balance and boost productivity.
KPMG IGNITION STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE: HUMAN SIDE OF INNOVATION SERIES
The office as a construct
Reimagining our modern conception of work embraces the positive potential of centralized offices as dynamic hubs, integrating innovative technologies that enhance flexibility in when and how tasks are accomplished. By challenging traditional assumptions about office work, we can fully appreciate the evolving role of physical workspaces and understand how they can best support the changing nature of work.
KPMG Ignition’s Future of Work Strategic Intelligence Perspective analyzed more than 155 sources and a primary survey of more than 1,000 workers. The findings reiterated that the fundamental pieces of work—the What, the Who, the How, the When, and the Where of work—are shifting and the relatively clear boundaries between them are blurring. In the past, the question of where work should be done had a straightforward answer: in an office. Being together offered collaboration and the best technology, and it was the only place you could deliver your work product in a non-digital world. Even up until just before the pandemic, the overwhelming majority of work that could be done remotely was still done in centralized offices. In a world where the reasons for being in an office are evolving, organizations have an exciting opportunity to rethink how they do business and identify the best ways to achieve their goals.
Understanding your organizational purpose
To craft a work experience that drives innovation, it’s not enough to default to an open floor plan or a floor of cubicles. It’s vital that leaders determine the correct team structure, the activities that the team will perform, and the skills needed for getting the work done—all before considering the correct environment. Once these elements are established, then it’s up to the organization to create intentional spaces to facilitate that work and unlock their employees’ potential to empower the organization. Some work is best done together where collaboration and interaction can occur. Other tasks require focused, solitary time in a private space. Some work will require virtual or hybrid collaboration, each with its own requirements. “We see this every day with our clients,” said Ada Neylan, director and KPMG Ignition New York City market leader. “It is important to consider that organizations which adopt flexible and adaptable workspace policies foster innovation. Creating environments that prioritize the work being done can enhance overall success and vitality.”
As we consult and advise our clients, we often find ourselves on a similar journey. By experimenting with the ideas we recommend, we are able to test them and share our insights. KPMG Ignition supports our clients in exploring ways to transform their workplace, workforce, or work as a whole—as part of this long moving transformation of the future of work.
Yessi Schecker
New York Office Managing Partner and New York Market Hub Leader
Crafting a new vision for the future workplace
At KPMG, we have been undergoing our own metamorphosis on this topic. We have continually iterated our technology to align with new experiential possibilities, aiming to create hybrid experiences that offer the same value as fully in-person ones. But we have faced the challenge of space that was built for outdated ways of working. As we prepare to transition to new offices, we have the opportunity to forge a new path that better suits how we work today and our vision for the future.
Our spaces at Two Manhattan West have been intentionally designed to meet the distinct needs of our workforce and clients. “Our new spaces show off some of the best of our approach to innovation,” said Yessi Scheker, office managing partner for the New York Metro. “As we consult and advise our clients, we often find ourselves on a similar journey. By experimenting with the ideas we recommend, we are able to test them and share our insights. KPMG Ignition supports our clients in exploring ways to transform their workplace, workforce, or work as a whole—as part of this long moving transformation of the future of work.”
As the types of work we do and how we do it have evolved, so has our approach to the workspace. Various styles of desks and environments fit for focused, heads-down work supplements more casual touchdown areas to support collaborative work and informal discussions. Seamless technology is integrated throughout our facilities to help ensure in-person and hybrid connectivity. Across our facilities, spaces for connection and informal gathering have been thoughtfully designed to support our shift to support a more flexible working model, fostering purposeful in-person gathering while accommodating remote work where it makes sense.
Our client-facing spaces also reflect our vision for the Future of the Workplace integrating technology that allows clients to experience insights in an immersive and unique way, accelerating their decision-making and growth. Our Ignition Center and large-format meeting spaces carry the same principles at a larger scale—they’re purpose-built and tech-enabled to support collaborative interactions and inspire innovative thinking. Explore how we use our spaces to empower the next wave of innovation at KPMG Ignition.
It is important to consider that organizations which adopt flexible and adaptable workspace policies foster innovation. Creating environments that prioritize the work being done can enhance overall success and vitality.
Ada Neylan
Director, Lab Delivery, KPMG Ignition, KPMG US
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