Robbert Engels
Current position:
Business analyst Internet and New Media at Rabobank Nederland
Thesis tittle:
Workplace Technologies, Enterprise Architecture and Dimensions of Work: Empirical research at Rabobank Nederland.
Description:
The nature of work has changed over the last couple of centuries. Where the economy used to be dominated by agriculture and manufacturing, a shift took place towards a service-based economy thriving on information and knowledge. The increasing possibilities of technology flatten the world. This lays pressure on (bureaucratic) organizations that face an environment in which they have to respond quickly to opportunities and changes in order to survive. In response to this, few organizations come to view the workplace and work design as a strategic asset, which should aid in supporting business goals. The Rabobank is developing a new work design, labeled Rabo Unplugged, in which technology enables people to work ‘anytime, anywhere’ and physical presence at the office is no prerequisite anymore, the focus of work should be on the results. This research explores factors that influence organizational performance as well as individual performance, in aiding the creation of an optimum work design for the Rabobank. The research illustrates by an explorative study that both the enterprise architecture maturity and usage of high performance workplace technologies are critical success factors for organizational performance. The effect of work design is evaluated by a survey measuring twenty-nine aspects (dimensions) of work, amongst others trust, empowerment, technology usage on four individual performance indicators, namely employee satisfaction, productivity, job flexibility and innovation. The sample consists of two departments of Group ICT (Rabobank Nederland). The results of this survey provide insight in the employee’s perception of their work environment and their individual performance. Although the survey is initiated as a longitudinal study to measure the effects of a changing work design, the first results already provide insight in the dimensions of work that influence the four individual performance indicators. From this survey it appeared that especially satisfaction with the workplace has a high influence on employee satisfaction. The competence of employees has the highest influence on productivity. Being able to personalize the workplace influences the job flexibility most and the impact of the employees on what happens at their department has the highest influence on innovation. The research suggests a review of the high performance workplace technologies that can benefit the Rabobank. And reviewing the possibilities to increase the impact of employees of on what happens at their department, since improving it is likely to increase productivity and innovation.
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2007 - Robbert Engels
