This Week's Herman Trend Alert Green Banks Thrive

The Herman Trend Alert April 11, 2000 Officescape 264 days until January 1, 2001 Office appearances are changing. The old traditions of bosses in corner offices, junior bosses in offices with windows, and everybody else in the bull pen are disappearing. More changes are coming. We're hearing about companies that put their boss' offices in the middle of the floor and give the space along the windows to the non-management employees. With single story buildings, skylights are installed to give natural light to everyone. While many companies still have cubicle forests, an increasing number of workers are complaining about the segregation and structured environment. People don't like the hierarchical design, where the height of your cubicle wall acknowledges your rank in the organization. And the prairie-dog image of people popping their heads up to see what's happening takes the Dilbert cartoon environment to another level. Cubicle walls are being replaced by picket fences, plantings, and furniture such as bookcases and couches. More and more companies are building conversation areas into office design, bringing in sofas, easy chairs, and floor cushions. Meeting rooms are now constructed with windows-to provide light, openness, and less secretiveness. Some are designed without chairs; stand-up meetings seem to be shorter and more productive for some reason. Color is used more-to distinguish one area from another or to set moods . . . or just to brighten the environment. Art is more prevalent, sometimes from permanent corporate collections and sometimes on loan (even display for sale) from local artists or schools. Office environmentalists are listening to noise... er, sound. Music or white noise helps reduce distractions and create a more comfortable atmosphere. Carpet helps deaden sound-on the floor and on walls, as well. In high-ceilinged rooms in refurbished older buildings, carpet can create a decorative effect while reducing echoes and too great a sense of expansiveness. Plants are more prevalent in working areas, and we see this trend continuing. They are symbiotic to humans, in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and offer a pleasant, almost peaceful environmental appeal. Interior horticulture companies service these plants to help make the workplace practically a living organism. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." ANNOUNCING: EMPLOYER OF CHOICE® WORKSHOPS Have you wanted to be recognized as an Employer of Choice®? The first step is to send your champion to The Employer of Choice® Workshop. In Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam (17 and 18 March), Singapore (23 and 24 March), and Accra, Ghana (Week of 29 March), we will hold these two-day learning experiences. We will also hold a workshop in the United States in April. For more information, contact Joyce at 336-210-3548 or email, her: joyce@hermangroup.com. She will refer you to the local sponsor. LOOKING FOR A DYNAMIC KEYNOTE SPEAKER WITH A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE? You need look no farther. Joyce Gioia (joy-yah) is a sought-after speaker in Asia as well as Europe, and of course the United States. Joyce shares her knowledge and expertise about talent engagement and retention with business executives around the globe. Her understandings and insights will inform and fascinate you. For more information on Joyce's topics, call Carol McKinney at 336-282-9370 or visit the web site at http://www.hermangroup.com/joyce.html. GOOD SELECTION = BETTER RETENTION If you are not using pre-employment assessments, you are flying without radar---not very smart in today's highly competitive environment. Let us help you better understand your candidates and your employees. In less than 30 minutes, you will know if they can do the job (abilities); their work behaviors, even their personality and attitudes (like integrity & ethics), and those can't be trained. It's very cost effective, too! For more information, contact Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail assessments@hermangroup.com. Validated for many countries and cultures. We offer in-depth help with job descriptions, too! http://www.hermangroup.com/assessments.html Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. 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