Business Workshop 1

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 1

Do you like your school's environment?

yes

no

Can a physical environment make someone more or less productive or happy at work?

Yes

No

I don't know

What physical features do you like most and least about the place where you work or study?

Source: Lessonup.com Business Workshop 1

Ditigal is an internet media organisation offering music, news and entertainment to millions of subscribers. This dynamic, fast-growing enterprise, which is only seven years old, has over 300 employees. The company is planning to move into bigger headquarters soon.

Danish co-founder and CEO, Clara Jensen, is a strong believer in the concept of 'arbejdsglæde' – from 'arbejde', the Danish for work, and 'glæde', the word for happiness – literally meaning 'happiness at work'.

Jensen is aware that employees who enjoy their work environment will be more engaged, productive, innovative and happy. This in turn will lead to greater customer satisfaction and success for the organisation.

Giving everyone a voice is a core value of the company and Jensen wants her employees' input on design of the new offices.

What is 'arbejdsglæde'?

As part of the consultation process, employees at Ditigal were asked what they would change about the current workspace. Look at the survey results and see what employees desired. The survey is on page 44 of your book.

The most popular request was for a(n) ________________.

1. bigger personal workspace
2. nicer communal areas
3. fewer noise distractions
4. option to work away from the office

This was followed by the need for ____________________ and ____________________.

1. more natural light
2. more communal workspace
3. more private meeting rooms
4. bigger personal workspace

More than ____________________ the staff commented on problems with noise.

1. a quarter of
2. half of
3. a fifth of
4. a third of

One in two people wanted ____________________.

1. more natural light
2. more private meeting rooms
3. more visual & acoustic privacy
4. access to outdoors

Three in ten people wanted the chance to ____________________.

1. to work away from the office
2. have nicer communal areas
3. access to outdoors
4. have bigger personal workspaces

Listen to two speakers talking about workspaces and facilities. What adjectives do they use to describe them?

Source: Hughes, J. and Naunton, J. (2021). Business Results Intermediate. Oxford University Press.

What can make an office attractive?

 TASK: Design a new office space

Work in small groups. Discuss your ideas for new headquarters. Use your imagination. 

For now at least, there is no budget restriction.

Make notes and present your ideas.

Remember to think about:

• what will be most attractive to staff of all ages and backgrounds.
• how many zones you want to create and the purpose of each.
  
• what messages you want to transmit to visitors.
  
• how you want your staff to feel when they're at work.
  
• what will attract workers into communal spaces.
  
• what decor and artwork you would like.