JUNE 2020CIOAPPLICATIONS.COM8 frequently meet with customers at our Grand Rapids location. For over 100 years, our company has created workplaces, so the visiting customer groups typically include an architect, an interior designer and a representative from facilities. They come to our offices to see our latest products and hear about our research on work, workers and the workplace. I always encourage these groups to invite an IT professional to accompany the group. At the start of the day, the IT representative often seems a bit confused why they are visiting a furniture company. By the end of the day, the IT team member is often the most enthusiastic about the possibilities of their new space. What Causes this Attitude Shift? As individuals and organizations become more connected and rely on technology for their work, the role of IT continues to grow. While the importance of wireless networks and technology in spaces was overlooked in the past, thoughtful organizations now see the value of bringing design, facilities and IT teams together at the start of projects. The change in mindset is invigorating. Leaders see it's not about who owns what; it's about agile, cross-functional teams working as an interconnected ecosystem. We should take our place at the table and guide our organizations to leverage technology to better use space, creating holistic workplaces that include people, place, products and technology. The change lets IT take a next step, moving past a focus on the organization's operations and function, and look to improve its wellbeing.IT and Technology in Space Planning When IT is involved in the earliest stages of a workplace strategy, critical needs like WLAN can be proactively planned. IT professionals can take into account the rapidly increasing demand on networks as the number of personal, employer-provided and smart objects in offices grows and as technologies like high definition video to connect distributed teams become more common. Early involvement can build a smarter wireless strategy, ensure adequate coverage and eliminate day to day roadblocks employees face, like long waits to get connected to the network, screens too small for the meeting roomor audio seeping into an adjacent space. Terry LenhardtLEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE BETTER SPACESIN MY ViewTERRY LENHARDT, VP & CIO, STEELCASEI
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