Deben Moza is passionate about helping define the future of work and the environments it is conducted in. He believes the workplace enables organisational culture, anchors collaboration, and delivers a productive workforce to the business. His staunch focus is on creating platforms for choice is at the core of my belief while designing workplace and portfolio strategies for our clients.
Flexibility, return to the office, and workplace optimisation is all rooted in providing the employees with a choice in how they conduct their work through workplace design.
What are some of the key strategies implemented by the team to adapt to the dynamically changing needs of the workforce?
Our team of workplace consultants delivers bespoke strategies to corporate clients that suit individual organisational and geographical needs. Some common and consistent themes include
– Replanning workplace space mix to adapt to hybrid and flexible working
– Creating experience-focused workplaces to attract the workforce back into the workplace
– Creating long-term strategies on portfolio optimisation in a hybrid / flexible world of work
What are the two biggest challenges that the industry is grappling with?
The two big challenges the industry is grappling with and working to overcome are
– Trying to create a balance between flexibility and productivity as the world returns to normalcy
– Understanding the impact of a potential “slow-down” in the global economy and its impact on corporate real estate
Given the accelerated pace of transformation, what emerging technologies are the industry working with?
Primarily technologies that focus on workplace experience. After nearly 2 and a half years of the pandemic, organisations have already accounted for technologies that enable flexible work. The main focus is enabling the new workplace with technologies that help balance the fluid workforce and the matter of in-person collaboration. Some examples include integration of building infrastructure and workplace technology, technology suites that make facilities management (workplace F&B, space booking systems) to seamlessly become a part of the productivity suite of tools etc
5. How are companies working towards balancing sustainability with safety in the post-pandemic era? What are some of the new systems and processes in place to adhere to green practices?
There is indeed a focus on sustainability and understanding the environmental impact of corporate actions. For instance, the weight of “Green” status of buildings plays a larger part in the business case of site selection. Energy consumption and operational impact of offices is becoming increasingly important and scrutinised by the business. One example of a proactive and successful implementation of a net zero energy concept is the Newton Green campus of DBS in Singapore that is a shining example of how the office can lead the way in this aspect.
What elements from workplace design do you see being replaced or disappearing entirely?
Frankly, the workplace is an evolving feast, and the one I hope to see disappear is the desk-farm way of designing offices. Fluid workforces have pushed designers and real estate professionals to look at workplaces as a fluid ecosystem of work settings such as booths, collaborative spaces, and multi-purpose spaces that transform as the use-case changes.