What could work for future workplaces, beyond working?

Workplace is changing. It is no longer just about working; it is about living. Bold initiatives by visionary business leaders have shown us the power of transformation that the workplace has over otherwise staid businesses drifting along with the status quo, while their competitors act to overtake them. The fact that over 40 per cent of the Fortune 100 companies from 15 years ago no longer exist is testament to this ‘adapt or die’ reality. This paper analyses the changing dynamics and identifies drivers, needs, challenges, and indicates solutions. The collective goal of this paper is to kick-start fresh thinking within organisations as to how their workplace programmes can offer high value to the businesses they serve. It raises a call for a new generation of thought leaders able to identify new roads to success through integration of a creative mix of new and expanded disciplines, far beyond the current scope normally associated with physical workplace solutions. To do this successfully businesses need a laser-like focus on the challenges, and new leaders need to break traditional barriers to reach the most valuable solutions. In a sense the nature of change to which we aspire moves this work well beyond a workplace context … but to ignore the obvious catalytic qualities of the workplace to engender creativity, create a common sense of purpose and develop specific deliverables through a project-derived momentum would be to miss a great opportunity. The current authors are therefore enthusiastic about continuing their search for a new generation of business improvement hosted under a workplace banner.