A friend recently told me he’s reported to seven different people over the past two years. His reporting relationship changes – but his job doesn’t. Appears his company keeps reorganizing in hopes of developing more efficient processes. On a personal level, Greg is happy he still has a job – but feels as if he’s spinning in circles.

Change is not easy, especially when it happens in the workplace. In the article “Adopting Change” Robert Tobin provides an example of a corporation who after acquiring two other companies decided to bring everyone together into one facility. Tobin explains how change management can be successful when including things like visible executive leadership, a connected message and a passionate user group.

Change comes in all different shapes and sizes. Fortunately, the physical environment can help make adapting to change much easier. Two articles in this issue of 360 support this concept. The first, “Building a Healing Environment,” provides insight into how an emotionally supportive interior design can be a key component to better and safer healthcare. The author highlights the foundational research of Robert Urlich who in 1984 discovered patients in rooms with outdoor views suffered fewer complications, used less pain medication and recovered more quickly than those without a view of the outdoors. The second article “Cut the Cord,” explains how new technologies (cell phones, PDA’s, Zigbee, IP Telephony etc.) will continue to change the nature of how we do our work. Michelle VanVuuren’s article helps unlock the mystery of technology jargon while at the same time sharing relevant and useful connections to how, when and where we work.

If you have not done so already, please answer our 360 survey. It asks, “How has workplace change affected you over the past year?” We’d really appreciate your response and if you have insights to share, please send them to editor@360steelcase.com.

Sincerely,

Pam Brenner, Steelcase Inc.
Editor, 360 e-zine
editor@360steelcase.com