AUTHOR=Windlinger Lukas , Gerber Marius 

TITLE=Functions and relevance of spatial co-presence: Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic for evidence-based workplace and human capital management

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Built Environment

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/built-environment/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2023.1035154

DOI=10.3389/fbuil.2023.1035154

ISSN=2297-3362

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Introduction:</bold> This study aims to analyze the role of co-presence against the background of COVID-19 pandemic to derive implications for an interdisciplinary, evidence-based workplace and human capital management. A theoretical framework is outlined that considers a range of topics from task performance to social and organizational contextual factors.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> In a single organization qualitative case study, five focus group interviews including a total of 20 employees of an IT consultancy were conducted to identify the effects of the mandatory remote working regimes imposed by the COVID-19 Pandemic on task and contextual performance.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Findings show that individual performance was assessed to have increased while internal processes remained at similar levels compared to pre-pandemic levels. Organizational culture, social contact, and identity, however, were reported to have considerably deteriorated in the view of the participants.</p><p><bold>Discussion:</bold> The study shows that for a company that was very experienced with distributed working, the reduction of co-presence had important effects on performance and culture. Findings suggest that co-presence must be carefully managed in the future. This could become a new joint priority for workplace design, workplace management, and human capital management.</p>