Microsoft
Microsoft"Starting with the purpose we looked at what the specific needs of individuals in the workplace are. What are the common things employees are trying to achieve with technology and what kind of work is the technology designed to facilitate?"
I think it's possible that the specific needs of employees are so varied, that another possible approach could be to focus on how the individual employee is trying to accomplish their work, and have a flexible enough environment to enable them to customize the technology and software on a small scale to blend to their daily needs and purposes, while also curating a productive mindset & environment. If the users aren't aware of the capabilities of the product, they won't be able to adjust their own workspace.
"Progress is incorporated when we think about the digital cultural norms that we can encourage to facilitate getting work done and the conditions to harness attention. How can we leverage technology and science to learn to facilitate Flow for example, a key factor in employee engagement4 and general well-being5 because it builds this feeling of progress?"
I've found in my personal experience that Flow can be disrupted whenever a thought process or input string is interrupted due to a digital environment that forces the user to retrieve information outside of their digital workplace, like a new web page, different browser, or software. Keeping files organized like you mentioned above is a task in itself. Ideally I'd like to see a smooth distribution of relevant information related to the user task at hand, to the user, as well as any other co-users in the collaborative effort. (Adding "In House" distributions that allow the organizational entity using the product to distribute relevant information & Data across their user machines, would be a much appreciated benefit by many organizational heads. This could include continuing education, deadlines, updates, etc.)
Email is too broadly used and acts as a personal identifier in many cases, and trying to use multiple creates headaches of organizational cluster. Customizable User Interfaces that act as a portal for the users chosen digital environment, be work, personal, or a learning space. Accessible chat rooms, and shared data storage is a must. A categorization of digital landscapes to allow for an immersive work environment, as well as but not in conjunction to an immersive personal environment could also help minimize distractions, improve focus and productivity. They must be separate to maintain the users focus on meaningful tasks. Allowing for an easy transition in and out of digital workplaces, and digital personal environments would lessen the overwhelming feel of meaningless notifications, and create a welcoming user experience that gives people immersion & space when they need it.
