Redefining the work environment

The summit was opened by Thomas Glatte, Head of Corporate Real Estate Management, BASF, and CoreNet’s Chapter Chair for Central Europe. He explained that in today’s fast changing world, with economic growth in Europe slowing while energy and material costs are rising, increasing productivity is key to any company’s success.

The Berlin summit was intended to help the delegates and their companies solve business issues.
Increasing productivity was referred to as today’s ‘Holy Grail’ and in this decade of talent, “supporting and promoting employees’ productivity levels should top every corporation’s agenda”. Effectively addressing this issue mandates embracing the needs of the upcoming generation while continuing to support older workers, creating engaging environments both in and outside the workplace, and utilizing every means possible to enhance individual workers abilities to produce and innovate.

Meet the mayor

Klaus Wowereit, the mayor of Berlin, made an appearance on stage, mentioning that Berlin was the world’s leading congress venue. With 3.4 million people, the city’s population has doubled since 1990 but still has lots of room for growth, with significant amounts of open space compared to most European capitals. After inviting delegates to visit the local shops and spend freely, he gave the stage to Frédéric Moschetti, Director of Business Development and the Real Estate Department, Euroméditerranée, who expounded on the importance of innovation and how, “Corporate real estate can act as a catalyst.”

Innovation to the Core

The enlightening opening keynote address was given by Rowan Gibson, the bestselling author of the books Rethinking the Future, and Innovation to the Core. Explaining the strategies for the new innovation society, Gibson said that, “Productivity is determined by 2 elements, the efficient use of inputs and the value of outputs. Over history the efficient use of inputs was the most important of these factors, but today the value of a company’s outputs is the predominant factor.”
He spoke of changing our expectations and behaviors with innovative new products and radical “game changing” innovation versus “standard incremental improvements to our existing systems.” Surprisingly a study conducted by Booz Allen Hamilton showed no relationship in the amount of money a company spent on R&D and the success they had with innovation. Instead superior results were a function of a company’s quality of innovation research, not the amount of cash invested. Gibson stated that innovation is a question of challenging orthodoxies, harnessing trends, leveraging resources, and understanding customers’ needs. He cited the importance of designing products from the customer backwards, learning from the fringe, making change work for you rather than against you, and looking at your product and asking what is wrong with it. Innovation is “not black magic but rather a systematic process”. In corporate real estate it is crucial to provide the right environment to innovate, including a colorful, creative, relaxed atmosphere.

The Total Workplace at Google

Having heard that Google was listed by Fortune Magazine as the best company in the world to work for, Marinus Dijkman, President REP, and I grabbed front row seats for the presentation by Michael Evans, National Director Corporate Finance, Jones Lang LaSalle; Jason Harper, Facilities Manager – Deutschland, Google Germany; and Andrew Laing, Managing Director, DEGW. They listed the importance of seeing the workplace as an extension of university life, where neighborhoods are combined on each floor so people are forced to bump into one another, interact, and exchange ideas. Getting the right team together, supporting varied team sizes, employing concentrated work spaces, and ensuring proper building quality (plenty of daylight and high air quality) were said to be vital. Other important points for companies to keep in mind are maintaining flexibility and adaptability, a healthy work/life balance, and leveraged learning – growing the next generation.