AMA Workware Toolkit

Basics

What is it?
AMA WorkWare is a package of qualitative and quantitative techniques which may be used separately or together. It assists decisions on the brief for new space in offices, educational facilities and other buildings that require workspace. It helps make positive changes to support the organisation's goals and objectives.

The original WorkWare toolkit has been expanded to include two new toolkits - WorkWare LEARN for education buildings and WorkWare CONNECT to enhance workplace collaboration. A new toolkit - WorkWare SUSTAIN - to inform sustainable behaviour change is currently in development.

Useful where?
To support client and users needing to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of existing space or achieve a better future project. Before changes, to help create a brief and plan the change. After occupation of new or redesigned space, to test how far objectives have been met and identify any immediate minor or future major changes that could enhance benefits for users.

What else does it do?
Benchmarks user opinion, space norms, utilisation patterns with other buildings, either within client portfolio or WorkWare database - currently over 300 buildings and 65,000 occupants. It also draws on its database to report on sector trends.

Related activities
Questionnaire tool has some similarities to BUS Occupant Survey and Overall Liking Score but not directly compatible with either at this stage.

In what sectors?
Devised for work buildings - predominantly offices - but also applies to other building types which include workspaces e.g. libraries, hospitals, courts. WorkWare LEARN is available for educational buildings and WorkWare CONNECT to improve spaces for interaction.

Relevance
Helps clients and users achieve better use of their buildings by providing a rigorous evidence base combining both hard and soft data.

Development status

Who developed it?
AMA Alexi Marmot Associates Ltd

Stage of development
1990 to present, in regular use. It is a mature set of tools that has branched out also creating WorkWare LEARN and WorkWare CONNECT. WorkWare SUSTAIN is also in development.

Examples of its use
Evolving set of decisions, (e.g. British Airways, Southwark Council) to help devise occupancy brief for new HQ, then to track effects and monitor progress in realising objectives and implementing future modifications. Paired pre and post occupancy reviews (e.g. BP, OGC ) to examine effectiveness of implementing property changes across international stock of space, where space design has been developed to support strategic organisational goals. Analysed student populations (e.g. University of the Arts London, Huddersfield University) to facilitate teaching space design.

Further development happening?
Evolution is continuous as workpatterns have become generally more flexible so new demands are being placed on buildings. Some aspects of the package are usually customised in order to address specific decisions or problems being considered. WorkWare CONNECT was launched in 2009 after being piloted the previous year. It is aimed at measuring how well office space and technology support business interaction.

Development contacts
Felicity Swaffer (felicity@aleximarmot.com) or Joanna Eley (joanna@aleximarmot.com)

How it works

Brief description

1. Space occupancy survey - a survey, generally for a week, of all spaces for work, meetings, social amenity and support. Four main activities charted, with subdivisions for desk based activities.
2. Online user opinion questionnaire on how well the work environment performs and supports work effectiveness.
3. Space audit - either based on drawings alone, or also on a walk-through, to establish the existing pattern of space use and density of occupation.
4. Interviews, workshops and focus groups to identify current and future requirements, opinions, problems, opportunities and agree change.
5. QUIZ (Quality of Interaction Zone) - an expert walkthrough to assess the quality of spaces for interact ion.
6. QUILLS (Quality of Learning Spaces) - an expert assessment to determine functional suitability of teaching spaces in learning environments.

Is there software?
In-house.

How long does it take?

1. Space occupation survey generally for one week. A one day 'snapshot' is possible but cannot be robustly compared to database.
2. Questionnaire 10-20 mins self-completion or assisted 10 minute version.
3. Space audit and walkthrough depend on size of building(s).
4. Interviews 20-45mins. Workshops and focus groups 1-2 hours each or intensive awayday format.

Can I do it myself?
Inhouse staff can be trained to conduct observations for the space occupancy survey. Licensing arrangements can be discussed for other expert tools.

Can someone else do it for me?
AMA technique, survey staff provided, trained and monitored by AMA.

User comments
“Very good for change management related to new space usage” “Very thorough and good at analytical work related to building use” “Helps me persuade staff that this is the right approach”

References
Office Space Planning - Designing for Tomorrow's Workplace, A. Marmot, J. Eley, McGraw Hill, 2001;
Programming/Briefing - Programme Review, A Marmot, J. Eley & S. Bradley, a chapter in Assessing Building Performance. W. Preiser, J.C. Vischer, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, 2005
Guide to Successful Interaction 2010 (available upon request from AMA).

Is the technique in the public domain?
No, but results are referred to in books and articles.

Are the methods open to inspection with technical support papers?
Yes.

Cost
Varies according to the size of the surveyed population and components of toolkits required.

Are the results in the public domain?
Reference to results in published articles and books.

Are there stable benchmarks?
Yes.

Is there an accreditation system?
Not yet.

Organisations offering
Alexi Marmot Associates,
Contact name: Felicity Swaffer.