Excellence By Design: Transforming Workplace and Work Practice [Hardcover]

Ben Horgen (Author), Michael L. Joroff (Author), William L. Porter (Author), Donald A. Schon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471246476 | ISBN-13: 978-0471246473 | Publication Date: November 23, 1998 | Edition: 1

A Groundbreaking Look at One of the Most Important Issues Facing Businesses Today Often overlooked, yet vital to an organization's overall operations and productivity, how work space is used is becoming an increasingly critical issue for businesses to address. Based on a four-year research project conducted by members of the MIT School of Architecture and Planning's Space Planning and Organization Research Group (SPORG), Excellence by Design examines this important issue. The book explores how the workplace interacts with work practices, introducing proven strategies and providing a sound framework for creating the workplace of the future. Covering a wide range of essential topics, from the interpersonal and political dimensions of workplace making to the art of using tools for workplace and organizational transformation, Excellence by Design introduces the "process architecture" approach to creating workplaces.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Excellence by Design Transforming Workplace and Work Practice To prepare for the challenges of the next century and, in particular, to adapt to an increasingly unstable and fast changing global environment, all organizations must redesign themselves if they are to succeed. In the search for elements of this design, one has gone largely unnoticed—until now. A growing number of forward-looking managers are discovering the significance of the effectively developed workplace and the vital role it plays in improving business operations and increasing productivity in a variety of business and service organizations—from factories and offices to laboratories and financial institutions. Excellence by Design examines this important approach and introduces proven strategies for creating the workplace of the future. Based on a four-year research project conducted by the MIT School of Architecture and Planning’s Space Planning and Organization Research Group (SPORG), this compelling book will intrigue all those concerned with improving work practices and workplaces. Excellence by Design introduces the "process architecture" framework and provides industry-wide cases and examples. The book demonstrates how this strategy can be used across a wide variety of organizations. Process architecture will interest senior managers as well as engage space planners, information technologists, human resources managers, and work teams. This design process can be used to simultaneously improve both the workplace and the associated work practices. Readers will learn the fundamental objectives and elements of the approach and will come to understand the skills, attitudes, and values needed to effectively implement the framework companywide. Excellence by Design delivers comprehensive coverage of a critical issue facing businesses today: the optimum use of the workplace in achieving organizational objectives.

From the Back Cover

A Groundbreaking Look at One of the Most Important Issues Facing Businesses Today Often overlooked, yet vital to an organization’s overall operations and productivity, how work space is used is becoming an increasingly critical issue for businesses to address. Based on a four-year research project conducted by members of the MIT School of Architecture and Planning’s Space Planning and Organization Research Group (SPORG), Excellence by Design examines this important issue. The book explores how the workplace interacts with work practices, introducing proven strategies and providing a sound framework for creating the workplace of the future. Covering a wide range of essential topics, from the interpersonal and political dimensions of workplace making to the art of using tools for workplace and organizational transformation, Excellence by Design introduces the "process architecture" approach to creating workplaces.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (November 23, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471246476
• ISBN-13: 978-0471246473
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,642,927 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SPARKS THINKING ON TOPIC OVERLOOKED IN ORGANIZATION CHANGE., December 9, 1999

By 

Gerry Stern "Stern's Management Review Online" (Culver City, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Excellence By Design: Transforming Workplace and Work Practice (Hardcover)

Explores the design of the physical workplace and the role this factor plays in improving productivity and operational effectiveness. Based on a four-year research project conducted by the MIT School of Architecture and Planning's Space Planning and Organization Research Group, this book introduces the concept of Process Architecture, meaning engaging a wide array of stakeholders in rethinking the dynamic relationship between work processes and the spatial, technological, financial, and organizational environments with which these processes occur. The authors provide a comprehensive explanation of the approach and framework with cases from the field. For those concerned with organizational strategy and design, this work introduces a key aspect-the workplace-often overlooked in organization change initiatives. This is an thoughtful book with original thinking. Highly recommended. Reviewed by Gerry Stern and Yvette Borcia, founders, Stern & Associates and HR Knowledge Network, authors of Stern's Sourcefinder: The Master Directory to HR and Business Management Information & Resources, Stern's CyberSpace SourceFinder, and Stern's Compensation and Benefits.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Content ok - Presentation horrible, May 10, 2009

By 

Joshua Karjala-svendsen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Excellence By Design: Transforming Workplace and Work Practice (Hardcover)

For a book bearing "Design" in it's title - "Excellence by design" sports a horrible layout.

Pages are massive walls of text with no strong indicators for headlines or summing points.

Illustrations are small and without color - thus hindering understanding.

1 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars essential for AI, TQM, board gurus, systems planners, July 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Excellence By Design: Transforming Workplace and Work Practice (Hardcover)

a new field - or major branch - of Architecture is now upon us. As Senior Advisor for Arificial Intelligence, i recommend quickscan of this matter. Graphs & color pgs help speed input, comprehenshun. Recommend translation to video, etc. Read w hiliter & make notes freely...Do it in team-read fashion.