Utilizing a co-working space, a location where freelancers can work alongside other remote workers, can have a positive impact on overall productivity and creativity, says new research released Tuesday at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
At the Ross School of Business, Professor Gretchen Spreitzer and student Lyndon Garrett, who has a doctorate in business, have teamed up with Pete Bacevice, a New York-based design strategist, to research the emerging trend of co-working, including new business models and lessons from the spaces that companies can adopt in their own offices.
“We hear often that people don’t want to work in a traditional office environment, but they miss interacting with people,” Spreitzer said. “It’s not just a feeling. Research shows that people are more productive and collaborative when they are working around others. Chance encounters and conversations spark creativity, and ideas are shared.”
In other news from U-M, the school recently announced the speakers for its inaugural Positive Business Conference, which will address how affirmative business strategies can have a dramatic impact on employees and profits. The three-day event, to be held May 15-17 at the Ross school, will include presentations by Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, Sheryl Connelly, chief futurist at Ford Motor Co., and Bob Fregolle, chief customer officer at Procter & Gamble.
For more information, or to register, visit positivebusinessconference.com.
