Why is it better to work together?
Groupwork:
People Working Together

Culture and cognition?
Communication and collaboration?
Jumpstart teams with more effective work environments.

Does a better playing field make a better team?

In the world of sports, maybe. In the world of business, definitely.

Groups and teams share five common characteristics: cultural traits, cognitive processes, behavioral patterns, technological tools, and physical space. Small changes to any of those characteristics can translate to big changes in performance.

And big changes to one of those characteristics - the physical space - can transform overall results.

Traditionally, workspace design has put individual needs first. When this premise is challenged, the needs of the group can receive primary consideration. This calls for a stronger emphasis on mobility and adaptability, a new blending of ownership and sharing. It demands open displays for shared information. And it requires support for shared technology, storage, and vertical and horizontal surfaces.

This paper delves into the defining characteristics of groupwork and looks at the corresponding workplace issues. It explores how physical space can affect group memory, identity, behaviors, and performance, and offers some assessment questions for forming and supporting people and how they work together.

So you can improve your playing field and your team.

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