The ProWork project (2006-2009) aimed to understand the requirements of productive knowledge work in physical, virtual, and social work settings and how to manage the workplace change processes.
Have you ever wondered, what is the role of a workplace in the knowledge work? Where do we need the offices, when we carry the virtual office in the backbag? How do we transfer the offices for new places to work, when we are learning the new ways of work? Can we cope with change? How the workplace resource can be managed?
These are questions that have been part of the motivation of the ProWork project. These web pages are an overview of this research: ways of finding the answers, the results found and ways of making new workplace strategy.
Physical, Social and Virtual worksettings
The ProWork project (2006-2009) aimed to understand the requirements of productive knowledge work in physical, virtual, and social work settings towards developing workplace resource management. The research project was a joint project between Helsinki University of Technology (Facilities Services Research Group and vmWork Research Unit/BIT), the Project Based Learning Laboratory in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Stanford University (USA) and NTNU (Norway). Industrial funding partners were HP, NCC, Nokia, Nordea, Senate Properties and Martela as well as Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation.
Methods
The case studies in organizations were performed to identify enablers and hindrances of productivity in knowledge work and to enhance workplace resource management processes. A variety of methods were used in the case studies, such as interviews, surveys, and shadowing. Additionally the development of workplace resource management tools was enhanced by organizing future workshops, task groups, user journey observations, interviews, and developing both the Workplace Resource Strategy Map and Probe tool.
Co-operation
The project was co-coordinated by CEM-Facility Services Research, TKK with Dr. Suvi Nenonen contributing the workplace resource management research. The productive knowledge work research was conducted by Professor Matti Vartiainen, BIT, TKK and his Virtual and Mobile Work Research unit. The virtual workplace research was conducted by Professor Renate Fruchter from Stanford University, USA. The knowledge workplace expertise partner is NTNU’s knowledge workplace research group, Norway including Professor Siri H. Blakstad and Professor Kirsten Arge.
The three year process has had many researchers on board. The researchers have dedicated their time and effort to work towards common goals. Thanks to Kaisa Airo, Anssi Balk, Petra Bosch, Nils Gersberg, Satu Koivisto, Inka Kojom Peggie Rothe, and Virpi Ruohomäki. Kati Rusanen and Kalle Airo have been an important technical, marketing and visualizing help in presenting the final outcomes of the project.
The connection with Stanford University has linked the project with New Ways of Working (NewWOW) network. The founder of the network Joe Ouye has advised us and he has been an important knowledge resource with a vast expertise in corporate space design. NewWOW network members have been linked to ProWork’s corporate sponsors and in the progress shared relevant perspectives with us during the last three years.
Read the final report here or Download proworkfinalreport.pdf (580.0K).
