KPMG test-runs mobile cubicles

THE stuffy corner office and cold cubicle work spaces are set to become a thing of the past, as one of the biggest consulting firms in Australia dives into a new way of working.

By InvestSMART · 20 Nov 2012

By InvestSMART ·
20 Nov 2012

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THE stuffy corner office and cold cubicle work spaces are set to become a thing of the past, as one of the biggest consulting firms in Australia dives into a new way of working.

First it was Macquarie Bank, then Microsoft, Jones Lang LaSalle, GPT Group and Goodman followed. More recently Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Yarra Valley Water joined in.

Now KPMG is getting in on one of the hottest trends in architectural circles: activity-based working (ABW). Instead of allocated seating and desktop computers, employees in an ABW organisations predominantly use mobile devices and are seated based on the activity or project they are working on at the time.

Consultant Philip Ross, chief executive of the Cordless Group and author of Activity-Based Working: The Hybrid Organisation, says work is "becoming a process, not a place". He predicts the death of the individual desk and desk phone.

In order to keep pace with clients, attract a broader set of employees and mitigate the pain of the daily commute, KPMG has begun a pilot ABW on one floor of its Shelley Street office in Sydney. Groups of about 80 employees will work in the ABW space for four months at a time to test the approach and discover optimal working patterns.

"We are testing and extending a whole range of our own technologies to support that," KPMG digital economy partner Malcolm Alder said.

"We have been progressively expanding a whole range of tools from our internal social-media platform to crowd-sourcing ideas internally on behalf of clients, which is really taking off.

"We have also expanded our range of telepresence facilities between our major offices, which are booked solid, to increasingly using office meeting and virtual environments for people in multiple locations."

If the pilot is successful, KPMG will adopt the new way for its new office at Barangaroo when it opens in 2016.

Mr Alder said it was critical to get the technology right so clients and staff experienced no disruption.

"It is rather like your first experience with online shopping for fresh groceries," he said. "If this stuff lobs up on your doorstep and there is one rotten pear in there, it'll be a long time before you go back."

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

What is KPMG testing with its activity-based working (ABW) pilot in Sydney?

KPMG is running an ABW pilot on one floor of its Shelley Street office in Sydney where groups of about 80 employees will use mobile devices and flexible seating for four months at a time. The pilot will test new ways of working, supporting technologies and optimal working patterns before any wider roll-out.

What exactly is activity-based working (ABW) and how does it change the office?

Activity-based working (ABW) replaces allocated desks and desk phones with flexible seating and mobile devices so employees sit according to the activity or project they are doing. The model emphasizes collaboration, shared spaces and using technology to make work 'a process, not a place,' as described in the article.

Why is KPMG adopting ABW and what are the goals of the pilot?

KPMG says it is testing ABW to keep pace with clients, attract a broader set of employees and reduce the pain of commuting. The pilot aims to discover optimal working patterns and ensure the supporting technology causes no disruption to staff or clients.

How will the ABW pilot be run and could it affect KPMG's new office plans?

The pilot involves rotating groups of roughly 80 employees through an ABW floor for four-month periods to test the approach. If the trial is successful, KPMG plans to adopt ABW for its new Barangaroo office opening in 2016.

What technologies is KPMG testing to support activity-based working?

KPMG is expanding a range of tools including its internal social-media platform, crowd-sourcing ideas internally, telepresence facilities between major offices and virtual meeting environments. The firm stresses getting the technology right so staff and clients experience no disruption.

What does the article say about telepresence and virtual meeting use at KPMG?

KPMG has expanded telepresence facilities between major offices and reports those facilities are booked solid, while increasingly using office meeting and virtual environments for people in multiple locations to support distributed collaboration.

Which other major organisations have adopted activity-based working?

The article notes that a number of large organisations have already moved to ABW, including Macquarie Bank, Microsoft, Jones Lang LaSalle, GPT Group, Goodman, Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Yarra Valley Water.

What should everyday investors look for when firms like KPMG test ABW and new office technologies?

Investors may want to watch pilot outcomes such as whether technology adoption is smooth, employee productivity and talent attraction improve, and whether firms commit ABW in future premises (for example, KPMG's planned Barangaroo office). These signals can indicate how prepared a company is to modernise operations without disrupting clients.