Work

New Work – New Office

design of an alternative working environment

Digitization is affecting our lives in many ways, and this is becoming more and more apparent at work. The developments entail some risks, but also offer great potentials. For example, increasing automation and the more extensive use of machine learning could lead to the loss of many jobs in the future. This gives us the opportunity for a comprehensive reorientation in terms of work. Today’s concept of wage labor, which focuses solely on the end product and ultimately on maximizing profit, must be questioned in light of current economic and social developments. The economic system is heading for a crisis, and it is time to develop new forms of collaboration in which people with all their needs and the purpose for society are at the center of entrepreneurial activity. At this point, digitization also plays a crucial role, because only the appropriate technology makes it possible, for example, to work in a decentralized and asynchronous manner. The Corona pandemic has opened many people’s eyes to the upheavals that lie ahead for our way of working in the future. In the current “home office” intensive test phase, both the advantages and disadvantages of these developments became clear. Social isolation is probably the most decisive negative effect of office abstinence. More than ever before, the importance of the workplace as a place for social exchange and creative collaboration became apparent. And even if decentralized working becomes more mainstream after the pandemic, these aspects will remain.
Based on our research in the field of non-violent communication and the idealistic notions of the “New Work” movement, we have designed a concrete spatial concept that reflects the current developments towards more personal responsibility and needs orientation and transfers them into a future utopia of an ideal workplace. The concept represents a starting point. The spaces presented require further elaboration. Facilities and processes need to be evolved. And finally, the concept can also be transferred to other settings such as the education sector.

English Version: New_Office_Tamm_Machmer_English

German Version: New_Office_Tamm_Machmer_Deutsch

 

Research:

Das Ende der Megamaschine_ Mitschrift

Reinventing Organizations_Mitschrift

 

Interview on the topic of nonviolent communication:

https://www.gewaltfrei-kommunizieren.hamburg/aktuelles/interwiews-und-webtalks-zur-gewaltfreien-kommunikation/

by elisa

“And how will you make a living with that?”

Questioning work and its perception

My initial research began with investigating the value of work. I dived into topics such as money, economy, capitalism, performance, consumption, etc., and analyzed their relations. Early on, it became clear that economic thinking has a prior role in our lives. Although, we might not always be conscious about it. Remembering my time in high school, I realized how much my training focused on working for money and predefined goals that were not mine. The dominance of work with financial motivation pushed all other demands aside.

I started to ask questions. What is the source of this attitude? Why are we so strongly motivated by money? Why are we neglecting other significant things in our lives, such as our health, social environment, or personal fulfillment? Led by those questions, I came across alternative ways to organize work, for instance, the concept of unconditional basic income and New Work. These ideas became a great source of inspiration during my research. I felt convinced by their human-centered and value-oriented approach.

In my essay “And how will you make a living with that?” I discuss the perception of work and its role in our lives. Furthermore, I include proposals of how general education could help to shift our view. My ideas intend to serve as a starting point to a complex problem and draw attention to our personal needs and desires.

Research notes: Recherche-Wert-der-Arbeit

by johannes