The expectations of new candidates and existing employees have shifted from a fun environment to a corporate environment that allows for personal, professional and emotional fulfillment. We have therefore devoted sufficient time to designing spaces based on work activities.

SPACES AND WORK ACTIVITIES

At Johnson & Johnson, we understand that it's not important to have your own mug or photos of loved ones on your desk. Much more important is the meaning, purpose and why and with whom we spend our workday. When I reflect on myself I realize how long I have spent time in my own office, yet the entire environment may not have been pleasant and friendly. It's not just me who can now meet people in the common area, in the kitchen by the coffee machine, in relaxation zones or collaboration rooms. It's a great benefit because the information you get through random interaction is exceptional, coming from people who really live their work and are at the very source of all the action.

Changing the work environment is a big challenge. The company has to prepare for it and people have to be in tune with the change. But how to achieve this? In order to learn the real needs and wishes of our employees, we have selected several ambassadors from among them who have been with us for more than three years. They know our needs for how we want to operate, communicate and collaborate.

TECHNOLOGY AND PEOPLE

Modern technology is controlled by people. Maybe that's why we find it easier to understand technology than people. We need to beware of the moment when we start to manage a company according to the currently available dashboard. We may know what the results are, but the results will never tell us WHY. Behind the specific results are stories of people who may be having a better or worse time. If we strip everything away and judge and compare only by inventory numbers, we will end up with a bad outcome.

At Johnson & Johnson, we have changed our assessment system from WHAT you accomplished to also HOW you accomplished it. We evaluate WHAT a person delivers and WHAT they can do, but we are also interested in HOW they are willing to share information with others. Sharing information affects our company culture. Creativity, engagement, performance, accountability, and level of personal involvement shape how you subsequently deliver the work you want, whether you contribute your part to building the work of others, and whether you build on someone else's work. Simply put, we are about collaboration.

Small, autonomous teams that use their different experiences to work together work well for us. People in these teams think and function differently (mindset change). They understand that competing with each other or with other teams does not pay. They understand that collaboration is more profitable than competition. They understand that the team is stronger than individual egos. They are motivated to succeed in group efforts in what is called a creative team. Creative teams come up with new ideas promptly, efficiently, and comprehensively. For this style of co-creation, different than traditional office spaces are required.

We are pleased that in collaboration with AV MEDIA we have been able to create work-based spaces where people collaborate agilely, feel comfortable and share the company culture. Mixed teams of different generations, cultures and professions that need to do work in the office, from the field or home office are the norm. In order to properly address these flexible needs, we needed to better know and understand the latest communication technologies.