The innovation deficit: The importance of the physical office post-COVID-19

Kerstin Sailer, Matt Thomas, Ros Pomeroy and Rosica Pachilova
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Kerstin Sailer: The Bartlett School of Architecture, UK
Matt Thomas: Department of Strategy and International Business, The Business School, University of Birmingham, University House, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
Ros Pomeroy: brainybirdz, UK
Rosica Pachilova: brainybirdz, UK

Corporate Real Estate Journal, 2021, vol. 11, issue 1, 79-92

Abstract: After more than a year of dealing with the fallout from COVID-19, much has been learnt about the benefits of working from home. There is plenty of evidence for people wishing to retain at least some of the flexibility that working from home has brought post-pandemic. What has also been shown, however, is that a well-designed office is more often better than home at supporting some types of activity, especially those involving socialisation and collaboration with others. This paper takes stock of what the office is good for and argues that without opportunities to meet in unplanned ways face-to-face, innovation, the lifeblood of many businesses, is at risk. In so doing, a different way to think about the post-pandemic office is proffered — one that is designed to realise the benefits that being physically co-present can bring and thus avoid the so-called innovation deficit. By using this way of thinking, this paper concludes with an evaluation of how some organisations are already ‘reimagining’ their post-pandemic workplaces.

Keywords: COVID-19; workplace strategy; workplace design; face-to-face interaction; unplanned encounter; innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: R3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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