KTP Project – Sheffield Hallam University and Mitie Energy

2

IntroductionWhat are Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)?

• The KTP is a scheme managed by the Government’s agency for innovation (Innovate UK), in which a graduate (me) pairs up with a business (Mitie) and an academic institution (Sheffield Hallam) to help improve the business’s competitiveness and productivity.

• The aim of this 3-year research project is to explore the effects of the workplace environment on employee productivity and wellbeing

3

IntroductionWho is leading the research?

• KTP Associate – Michael Roskams

Ø BSc in Psychology from the University of Exeter (2011-2014)Ø MSc in the Psychology of Sport and Exercise from Loughborough University

(2015-2016)Ø KTP associate and PhD Student at Sheffield Hallam University, in partnership

with Mitie (2017-Present)

• Academic Supervisor – Dr. Barry Haynes

Ø Principal Lecturer in Corporate Real Estate and Facilities Management at Sheffield Hallam University (2005-Present)

Ø Published numerous journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters on the subject of workplace productivity

4

FIRST OBJECTIVECreating a conceptual model for understanding the relationship between the workplace environment and knowledge worker job

performance

5

The Environmental Demands-Resources (ED-R) Model

PATHOGENIC DEMANDS

SALUTOGENICRESOURCES

6

The Environmental Demands-Resources (ED-R) ModelDemands and Resources in the Workplace Environment

PATHOGENIC DEMANDS

7

The Environmental Demands-Resources (ED-R) ModelDemands and Resources in the Workplace Environment

SALUTOGENICRESOURCES

8

The Environmental Demands-Resources (ED-R) ModelDemands and Resources in the Workplace Environment

?

9

The Environmental Demands-Resources (ED-R) ModelFocus for research

• How can we understand what constitutes a “demand” or a “resource” for different types of knowledge worker?

• What strategies can we use to minimise demands and maximise resources in the workplace environment?

10

QUESTION ONEHow can we understand what constitutes a “demand” or a

“resource” for different types of knowledge worker?

11

Employee-Workplace AlignmentThe role of individual differences

• We explored the relationship between employee characteristics (demographics, personality, task type) and workplace requirements in two studies.

4.71

2.17

3.29

4.2

3.373.893.85

5.064.51

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Acoustical quality Disturbance byspeech

Difficulties inconcentration

Acoustic comfort in open-plan offices

Low noise sensitivityModerate noise sensitivity

High noise sensitivity

3.22

4.114.48

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Office productivityIntrovertedAmbiverted

Extraverted

Productivity in open-planoffices

12

QUESTION TWOWhat strategies can we use to minimise demands and maximise

resources in the workplace environment?

13

Harnessing IoT Technology

• Due to developments in wireless sensor technology, we can now monitor key indoor environment parameters in real time

• Live data from thousands of sensors can be viewed using a simple online portal

• Environmental problems can be identified immediately, prompting remedial action

Supporting occupant comfort using wireless environmental sensors

14

Harnessing IoT Technology

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

08:3

008

:41

08:5

209

:03

09:1

409

:25

09:3

609

:47

09:5

810

:09

10:2

010

:31

10:4

210

:53

11:0

411

:15

11:2

611

:37

11:4

811

:59

12:1

012

:21

12:3

212

:43

12:5

413

:05

13:1

613

:27

13:3

813

:49

14:0

014

:11

14:2

214

:33

14:4

414

:55

15:0

615

:17

15:2

815

:39

15:5

016

:01

16:1

216

:23

16:3

416

:45

16:5

617

:07

17:1

817

:29

17:4

017

:51

Carb

on D

ioxid

e (p

arts

per

mill

ion)

Fluctuation in Carbon Dioxide across the working day

Supporting occupant comfort using wireless environmental sensors

15

Closing the Feedback Loop

• Traditional modes of assessing the workplace environment (e.g. occupant surveys) provide limited contextual information

• The feedback is rarely acted upon by practitioners

• Repeated assessments of momentary perceptions (e.g. via smartphones) could provide more useful and actionable data

Improving communication between workplace occupants and practitioners

16

FUTURE PLANBringing together the two strands of research

17

Ongoing ResearchResearch questions currently being explored:

• To what extent does adherence to comfort policy improve occupant environmental comfort?

• Can we improve the predictive strength of the models by including individual difference characteristics?

• Which aspects of environmental comfort are most strongly associated with stress and productivity?

To stay updated with the research findings, please visit the ResearchGate project page at:

https://www.researchgate.net/project/Exploring-the-relationship-between-the-built-environment-workplace-wellbeing-and-productivity

Thank you for listening.

Any questions?

Michael RoskamsThe Shard, Level 1232 London Bridge StreetLondon, SE1 9SG, UKT: 07341 073362E: michael.roskams@mitie.com