Smart Working isn’t telework: that’s clear, at last! finalmente è chiaro! Smart means to do the right job in the most appropriate place, inside and outside the office: to create places where people love to work. This year, too, lots of interesting surprises at Osservatorio Smart Working . The diversification of jobs and ways of working requires as much  variety and flexibility in space configurations. And Orgatec 2014 will offer the answer to many new needs that have recently emerged.

In Europe, over 56% of companies apply forms of flexibility, and this trend is considered as substantial in Italy, as well: 36% of them are already bringing about Smart projects and a further 20% will do it  before long.
Though accepting technological empowerment,  the Italian managerial culture isn’t ready yet for an organization based on new styles of leadership,  trust, independence; the issue of coordination is still the most critical point. The way to a “smartification” is a long and complex one, and there are no shortcuts, for everyone has to find their own way.
However, the Smart companies agree upon the remarkable advantages – and some of them are conspicuous: Work-life Balance (71%), Productivity (56%), Motivation (53%), Organizational Wellness (40%)– and confirm that the sense of  belonging increases, because the company can convey a Vision and an actual collaborative and participative attitude.
The passionate accounts given by people who think Smart when carrying out political initiatives (Alessia Mosca and Chiara Bisconti) and by the companies awarded Smart Working Awards (Provincia Autonoma di Trento, American Express and mentions to Unicredit e Nestlè) clearly prove that technology is not enough to change a presence-based outlook and there is still a lot to do concerning the re-planning of the physical space.
Even Smart-oriented companies, failing new models of reference, keep following  inadeguate, conventional layouts: meeting rooms(85%), open space (78%), individual office (52%).
But the efficient open space isn’t the most effective arrangement; the need of concentration (47%) and the problem of noise (13%) remain unsolved while the request for informal areas and “cocoons” is growing.
Interactive editorial by Renata Sias, editor WOW! Webmagazine.
Photo: Smart Working environments at Unicredit Tower in Milano.

Note: WOW! is Osservatorio Smart Working’s media partner. The report of the research 2014 presented on October 15th will be online in the next few days.