The Leader - March/April 2008 - (Page 51)

B e y o Nd B eN cH M a r kiN G: GettiN G to tHe re al i s s ue s i N to day’ s co Mp e ti ti v e Marke tp lace moted from within. A quick assessment of the planning group made all present realize that the group was not reflective of the workers the Bank was trying to attract, recruit or increase as a client base. Additional team members were added to balance out the demographics of the planning team to be more reflective of the target group. While most companies are looking to reduce their space utilization per person, an early assessment of BFSFCU’s needs and goals identified that they required the exact opposite. Their existing utilization rate did not provide them with the space they needed to meet their functional requirements. Many corporations aim to standardize their workspace standards, but again, an early assessment determined that the BFSFCU had enough variety in job functions that one size misfits all. As a result, a kit of parts was developed that can be configured as needed to accommodate different workers’ styles and functions. BFSFCU also bucked the trend of moving to a truly open work environment, which has been a growing industry trend in banking and the financial services industry. The focus groups and surveys continually pointed to acoustical issues and a lack of privacy as being a contributing factor to the failure of the existing space and as a key element to the success of the their mission going forward. Hence, open areas were created that allowed for collaboration, but were limited in size, and private offices were retained. The placement of the offices and the use of material, specifically glass, were key recommendations to allow for a more contemporary environment that providing a feeling of “openness” without compromising privacy or security. By following the same path set forth by your peers, companies often replicate mistakes rather than learning from them. Instead, taking their lessons learned and applying them to the solutions you determine are right for your company’s unique needs is how benchmarking should be applied. In the workplace of today, true competitive advantage comes not from mirroring what your peers are doing, but learning from what they want to do – what has worked and what has not – and then assessing its relevance to your own specific business goals and drivers. Compelling organizations are rarely followers; they are trend-setters. Companies that evaluate industry benchmarking yet chart their own course that is specific and unique to them will drive innovation by providing the next level of workplace solutions to attract and retain their employee base and continue to outpace their competition. aBout tHe autHors For more information on this topic, go to CoreNet Global’s Knowledge Center Online. IA Interior Architects – calPERS (California Public Employee’s Retirement System) http://www2.corenetglobal.org/dotCMS/ kcoAsset?assetInode=1410671 Ernst & Young Australia: New Workplace Standards and Initiatives Program http://www2.corenetglobal.org/dotCMS/ kcoAsset?assetInode=69584 The Future of Work at Capital One http://www2.corenetglobal.org/dotCMS/ kcoAsset?assetInode=88606 As Manager of Special Projects at BFSFCU since 2006, Linda Lee has managed the renovation of multiple locations. Currently she is overseeing the development of a centralized Operations Center in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Kay Sargent, IIDA is a Principal with IA Interior Architects, based out of Washington, DC. With over 24 years of experience, she is considered a leading expert in Workplace Strategies and Integrated Security Design. 2 0 0 8 t He le ade r 51 M arcH / ap r i l http://www2.corenetglobal.org/dotCMS/kcoAsset?assetInode=1410671 http://www2.corenetglobal.org/dotCMS/kcoAsset?assetInode=69584 http://www2.corenetglobal.org/dotCMS/kcoAsset?assetInode=88606

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Leader - March/April 2008

The Leader - March/April 2008 Leadership Contents Message from the CEO Real Estate in the News Taking CRM Programs to the Next Level A Commitment to Sustainability GSA’s National 3D-4D-BIM Program Sustainability at ABN-AMRO Getting to the Real Issues in Today’s Competitive Marketplace ManPower Consolidates Real Estate & Project Management with One Provider HP's Renee Leach and Team Como's Robin Harris San Antonio's Mario Hernandez Chicago Workplace, Mid-Atlantic, and Boston The Gold Standard: California Is the State for Innovation Pat Crumley: Education Is a Path to Success Postcards from the Edge Tribune's Stephanie Pater Economic Development in the News A Look Ahead EDP Continues Expansion in Asia-Pacific

The Leader - March/April 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.