In-House Facility of Ecover Insurance Group - Term Paper Example

In-House facility of Ecover Insurance Group Name Tutor Course Date In-House facility of Ecover Insurance Group Introduction Designing and structuring business premises so as to enhance achievements of occupant health as well as improving their productivity is in congruence to the global sustainability legislation. Over the recent years, there has been significant shift from the design and construction of buildings to the performance of sustainable buildings in use. This implies that the user experience is increasingly becoming a significant consideration in designing and structuring the contemporary buildings (Best and de Valence 2013). In other words, the fundamentals of the contemporary architectural embodiment are significantly being characterized by the phenomenon of the performance gap. Performance gap basically refers to the gap that exists between the performance of design and the actual performance, as well as the missing link between technical prospects and the user perspectives in a sustainable building. This report provides a detailed presentation of the possible changes that ought to be implemented at the premises occupied by the Ecover Group, a Swiss insurance company based in Canon Street, London. Possible Changes The condition of the in-house facility of the premises occupied by the Ecover Insurance Company, which cause discomfort to the occupants and lowers the productivity of the employees, can be remedied in a number of significant ways. Foremost, it is believed that both the visual and thermal factors are vital environmental factors which have profound impact on the productivity and physical comfort of the building occupants. Therefore, it is notable that complaints raised by the workers of Ecover Group over the work environment can be viewed in these perspectives. The first strategy in restructuring the work station in response to the complaints that had been raised typically begins with a critical examination of the building (Brennan, Chugh and Kline 2002). Sufficient analysis of the building provides understanding and the subsystems together with their functional elements. In this instance, various aspects such as indoor climate, the technical operations, and attitudes of the users as well as the general satisfaction of the employees are elaborately examined. Since meeting the satisfaction of the occupants is one of the most crucial elements of the modern day sustainable buildings, the indoor climate of the facility is one of the factors that should be closely monitored. According to Deuble and John de Dear (2012), most current offices basically provide static thermal environments for all the occupants of a building by using centralized heating systems, ventilation and air conditioning. However, such systems should be replaced with mechanisms that enable the variability of the indoor environment. This can be enhanced through efficient systems that enable users to adjust the room temperature to suit their needs. For instance, installing windows that can easily be adjusted by the users, shade devices and automated controls are preferable as opposed to using centralised systems. Achieving indoor climatic variability is an integral effort that enables organizations to attain sustainable building design solutions. Baker and Standeven (1996) concurs that buildings that feature natural ventilation capacity are defined as green building. Improving ventilation is very critical for the health of the occupants. Edwards and Naboni (2013) agree that poor ventilation results in multiple health problems which include respiratory ailments, sick building syndrome and some allergies (Isaksson & Karlsson 2006). The Post occupancy evaluation advocates for elevation of natural ventilation. As shown in figure 1 below, the ventilation system of the premises occupied by the Ecover Company is the mechanical system and hybrid of natural ventilation. These systems should be replaced with the natural ventilation systems. Changing the internal space to meet the convenience of the users is also very critical. Proper use of space refers to establishing the right context of the available space to enhance generation of the strong pillars of productivity which include concentration, communication, learning and collaboration of the employees. The indicative photograph shown in the figure below indicates that the current layout plan of the space hinders flexibility. This aspect makes tit difficult to alter the space as activities, projects and workgroups evolve. Fig. 1 The current layout and office décor of Ecover Group Job satisfaction is significantly associated with work engagement which includes physical space and organizational aspects of the work place (Champy 1995). It is therefore evident that poor organization of the work place is likely to reduce organizational performance. The employee morale is significantly eroded in circumstances which in turn lower achievement of organizational goals and personal growth and development. The condition can be remedied by reorganizing the layout plan to maximize flexibility. This allows the employees to change the layout of the space to meet their individual and group needs. The figure below is a sample of the layout strategy that should be adopted in the company. Fig 2 Proposed layout plan Increasing the quality of the lighting system should be an important factor that should be changed in the Ecover’s workplace. From the indicative image in figure one shows that the lighting system of the company is very poor. Insufficient lighting is known for the visual discomforts which can result in headaches. The issue surrounding the lighting system can be addressed in three distinctive scopes which include the day light system, the glare and the artificial lighting (Gibson and Lizieri 1999). The day light system entails the combination of both the skylight and the sunlight. Orientation, gazing and interior office plan are some of the crucial ways through the daylight can be improved and controlled. The figure below is an indication of how the lighting system of the office can be redesigned. Day lighting Systems Fig 3 Proposed improvement of the lighting system The glare light is the direct light that is reflected from screen such as computer screens. Such lighting systems should be matched with the nature of the work that is being performed. The lighting system is efficient and cost-effective strategy of increasing the productivity of the employees. How the Changes will be Evaluated to Ensure their Effectiveness Currying out analysis of the contextual field where change has been assimilated is very crucial. This helps in determining whether the implemented change enhances the achievement of the intended outcome or maintains the status quo. If the implemented change maintains the status quo then it should be abandoned and another intervention plan be designed. The most basic way of evaluating the impact of the implemented change is through the background knowledge of the company. It serves as the bottom line from understanding for understanding how the change is perceived. Instituting the desired change requires critical evaluation of the overall impact of the change. In addition, the implication of the desired change is also a critical matter. For instance, how the employees perceive the change and the way it will be valued by both the stake holders and the customers. The change should be evaluated in terms of the advantages it impacts to the general performance of the business as opposed to the past practices (Preiser and Vischer 2006). In most cases, employees may often perceive form of change at the workplace as indictment of the practices they performed in the past. Putting the change on a weighing balance where the variables are the past performance of the old systems on one side of the balance while its current achievements on the other side of the balance. Another way of evaluating the change is to examine if the benefits are readily observable. According to Vischer (2008), changes are not implemented just for the sake of change but to enhance achievement o the desired results. Therefore, presenting the conceptual and the practical benefits of the implemented change is very fundamental. This entails the physical demonstration of the benefits derived from implementing the change. Relevant Legal Issue Relating to the Proposal There are laws and regulations that govern work process in every jurisdiction of sovereign state. The relevant legal issue in implementing the proposed change would be obtaining certification of work permission from the relevant authorities. According to Brennan et al. (2002), ccommencing the implementation without legal approval would be a violation of legal regulations governing such activities. Furthermore, the implementation processes must adhere to environmental regulations. It is important to note that the company occupies a building with several other users. As such, the proposed changes must be done with minimal noise pollution and must be in line with other environmental concern (Brennan et al., 2002). Reasonable assumptions made The core purpose of implementing the changes is to elevate the morale of the workers so as to elevate organizational performance. According to Preiser and Vischer, (2006), one of the reasonable assumptions in this instance is that the proposed changes will improve the current conditions. It is assumed that after the implementation if the proposed changes, the performance of Ecover Group will have positive outcomes. Secondly, it is assumed that the proposed changes are congruent with the needs of the employees. In essence, the workers can only be motivated to deliver quality work if they are provided with equipments and work environment that suits their needs. In addition, the health and safety of workers is also a top priority of implanting the changes. It is therefore assumed that the proposed changes will improve health risks that are associated with current workplace design (Preiser & Vischer, 2006). Recent research relating to user satisfaction and productivity in buildings The recent research regarding the user satisfaction and productivity in buildings indicate that the design of an office is a critical determinant of organizational performance (Eastman, et al., 2011). For instance, good lighting systems in workplace are very essential in since it enables people to see clearly and work safely. Additionally, the research shows that the focus on satisfying the needs of users of a sustainable building in increasingly becoming a major premise of modern day architecture (Eastman, et al 2011). Recommendations on an appropriate course of action The post-occupancy evaluations (POE) should be done after a critical consideration of the responses of the users. It is noteworthy to observe that in this instance, the changes that are implemented will definitely disorganize the current work place structure. One of the major aspects of work place organization that is likely to be affected in the workplace relationships. For instance, altering the layout of the office may disorient the interpersonal relationship. As such it is recommendable that the responses of the users should be included in the evaluation process. This is likely to eliminate any discrepancies that may exist between the evaluation process in technical terms and the change in the users’ terms. Conducting an audience analysis is also highly recommended. The essence of evaluating the current layout plan and implementing some levels of change is to meet the needs of the users so to improve their productivity. It is therefore critical to note that what may appeal to one user may not appeal to another one. This implies that the organization should determine the key groups that are likely to affect and be affected by the change. The impact of the change on a group has a direct impact on its productivity. Conclusion Implementations of effective changes start with critical evaluation of the condition of the current structure and the perception of the users. For the implemented change to be efficient, it should b compatible with the demands of the users. The paper has demonstrated that the underpinning factor is elevating the experience of the users so as to enhance the performance of the organization. Evaluating the impacts of the desired change is a very critical means of determining the efficiency of the implemented changes. Holistic evaluation of the impact of the implemented change is essentially based on the premises of the resistance points. List of Reference Baker N, Standeven M. 1996, “Thermal comfort for free running buildings. Energy and Buildings, vol.23 no 3, pp175- 182. Best, R. & de Valence, R.2013, Building in Value: Pre-Design Issues, Routledge, United Kingdom. Brennan, A., Chugh, J. & Kline, T. 2002, "Traditional versus open office design: A longitudinal field study", Environment and Behavior, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 279-299. Champy, J. 1995, Reengineering management. New York: Harper Business. Eastman, C. Teicholz P. Sacks, R & Liston, K. 2011, BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers Designers, Engineers and Contractors John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey. Deuble, M.P. & de Dear R. J., 2012, ‘Green occupants for green buildings: The missing link?’ Building and Environment, Vol. 52 pp 21 Edwards, B. W. & Naboni, E. 2013,Green Buildings Pay: Design, Productivity and Ecology Rutledge, New York. Gibson, V. & Lizieri, C. 1999, ‘New Business Practices and the Corporate Property Portfolio: How Responsive is the UK Property Market?’ Journal of Property Research, vol 16 no 3, pp 201-218. Isaksson, C. & Karlsson, F., 2006, ‘Indoor climate in low-energy houses – an interdisciplinary investigation’, Building and Environment, vol 41, p. 1678-1690. Preiser, W. & Vischer, J. 2006, Assessing Building Performance, Elsevier, United Kingdom. Vischer, J.C., 2008, ‘Towards a user-centred theory of the built environment’, Building Research and Information, vol 36, p. 231-240. Read More