Contract Magazine - December 2019 - 18

VIEWPOINT

Designing for a Data-Obsessed Generation
With improved processes and an emphasis on transparency,
workplace design has the opportunity to set the standard
for successful data tracking.
The steps we take, the websites we visit, and even
the food we eat-essentially all human activity can
be tracked, and often without us knowing. This reality
excites some, worries others, and has made
information and associated personal privacy a key
issue in designing successful future workspaces.
We know from Gartner research that in 2018
"more than 50 percent of 239 large corporations
surveyed were using new observation methods
(sensors, GPS, audio tracking, etc.) to understand
employees behaviors (the survey anticipated this
number would jump to 80 percent in 2019), 22 percent
of organizations are using employee-movement data,
17 percent are observing work-computer usage data,
and so on. At the same time, Accenture reporting
reveals that more than 60 percent of execs aren't sure
their companies are using info appropriately and 64
percent of employees are uncomfortable with such
tracking and data collection not knowing the lens
that it is being viewed through.
Within this pivot point is an opportunity for the
design community to rethink the next decade. Through
our work we hear the concerns of both employers
and staff, and we know the difference between helpful
and extraneous data through design execution.
This uniquely positions us to help all parties grow more
confident in data tracking and sharing as valuable
tools to create successful workplace environments.

While there is indisputable evidence that
data can help us create better work environments,
uncertainty exists due to lack of clarity around
how data is used, or the anonymity of it. Employees
worry conversations will be overheard, that their
personal health habits will be closely monitored
(no one wants to be shamed for that bagel with cream
cheese at the all-staff meeting), and that ultimately,
this personal data will inform professional decisions
around their employment or compensation. Clearing
this uncertainty up will require deliberate action
that the design community can lead, including
the following:

and movement throughout the working data. The
culled findings revealed that top-performing workers
belonged to close-knit teams and caused the bank
to schedule group breaks for workers, rather than
solo ones-a minor change that has resulted in both
increased staff satisfaction and productivity ever
since; a quality of life impact.
* There are numerous examples of space utilization
data helping companies strategically transform
unused work zones into new amenity spaces (cafes,
gyms, game rooms, spin classes, etc.) for staff.
Recognizing underutilized space is an opportunity
for both staff and leadership to benefit.

Encourage dialogue and transparency
Business leaders admit they're unsure about how
to best leverage the data they collect while staff echo
similar concerns amongst their peers. These separate
conversations only breed more uncertainty.
Through our design processes, we're encouraging
dialogue around what tracking technology companies
will deploy and exactly how this data will be used and
what detail level is captured. These conversations can
be held at the outset of projects, as data is collected
and evaluated and should continue as new solutions
are introduced and staff can experience correlated
benefits. Increasing transparency in the entire data
collection process will build trust within companies
and across industries. It should also translate to
stronger data as staff feel more comfortable sharing
insight into their daily activity and schedules,
and knowing to what degree they are individually
protected as "anonymized" data.

Push for policy
Information and its privacy is a major issue that
reaches beyond the workplace. It grapples with hard
questions around who owns personal and business
data that's hosted on an employee's laptop or phone;
how we ensure tracking data doesn't influence hiring
or firing; what responsibility organizations have toward
their clients' private data; and the list goes on.
As we spur increased dialogue around these
topics within organizations and in the design process,
momentum will build toward actual human resources
policy that brings further clarity and comfort for
the future. There is opportunity for workplace design
to be a beacon for successful data tracking and the
communication around it.
No, organizations don't need to know what
their staff are adding as toppings at the "Taco Tuesday"
buffet, or what they're saying to their mothers in
private conversations, but that doesn't mean personal
data tracking is a bad thing. There are countless
benefits we can derive from data to create incredible
customized work environments for the future that
benefit all users. With 2020 now in the immediate
foreground, designers are embracing the opportunity
to help clients and their staff ensure that data drives
success for all, by raising the quality of the process
and delivering an evolved environment that would
otherwise be unattainable.

Define mutual benefits
Designers can also build trust in data collection
by helping all different organizational levels understand
it should empower mutually beneficial outcomes.
There are extensive examples of this, including:
* Zurich North America implemented an extensive
workplace pilot and engagement process to inform
its new headquarters. The resulting solution has
increased employee satisfaction by more than 30
percent. This increased satisfaction leads to happier
employees, stronger recruitment and retention,
increased productivity, and improved bottom
line results.
* After realizing a disparity in customer service
center productivity, Bank of America equipped its
teams with personal sensors packed into ID badges
that could track social interactions, tone of voice,
18

Michael Bonomo, NCIDQ, IIDA, ASID, is an innovative
design leader who has directly influenced more
than 10 million square feet of interior environments
across tech, corporate, retail, and experiential
spaces. He directs CannonDesign's global workplace
practice and co-leads its commercial market.
His recent work includes projects with Square,
Atlassian, LinkedIn, and more.
contractdesign.com

DECEMBER 2019
http://www.contractdesign.com
Contract Magazine - December 2019

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