How Microsoft and Steelcase are building the workplace millennials will love

Image credit: Microsoft

Millennials, 20- to early 30-somethings, seem aptitude on doing everything, including working, differently than previous generations. Co-ordinate to recent studies they're dedicated to working more collaboratively, rather than competitively, than previous generations.

For decades Microsoft served enterprise environments comprised of individuals who came of age before the digital age. They didn't abound upwards with consumer net or always-connected mobile broadband. Furthermore, their personal encounters with cutting-edge technology were more likely to occur at work rather than with widely accessible high-finish consumer electronics like PC-like smartphones and versatile mobile PCs.

Millennials (born between 1983 and 1994) are what many call digital natives. They've come up of age in a digitally connected world dominated by smartphones, mobile technology and social media. They exist in a physical/digital duality where activity in the digital earth has real-life bear on and vice-versa. And they thrive in a culture where personal data is freely shared, there's instant access to information, and at that place's a sense of community that constant connectivity creates. Information technology'southward no wonder that 88 percent of millennials prefer collaborative piece of work cultures over the competitive workplaces of their predecessors. Consequently, Microsoft'south engineering investments are focused on collaborative interactions supported past a partnership with Steelcase, a company dedicated to helping Microsoft create technologically-integrated workspaces millennials volition dearest.

Microsoft's inventiveness and collaboration foundations

Epitome credit: Microsoft

A recent written report revealed that members of the Young Presidents System concord that "creativity is essential to thrive in today's economic system." Creativity in business is the ability to solve today's complex problems. Microsoft and Steelcase, formerly the Metal Office Furniture Company, believe collaborative workflows help inspire creativity.

The study too showed that:

84% of the respondents believe new engineering will aid inspire creativity.
90% know technology and physical space foster creativity.
87% believe a culture that encourages creativity is a top five investment.

Employees also want tools that will make information technology piece of cake for them to bring their ideas to life from anywhere. This employee-driven desire for cutting-edge tech gives merit to Microsoft's conclusion to focus on enterprise users. Though its tools have personal and professional person appeal Microsoft's nearly aggressive efforts are enterprise-focused.

Microsoft may be hoping a "trickle downwardly to consumers" upshot of its current and future tech like Surface, HoloLens, Windows Mixed Reality, and its rumored inking- and collaboration-focused Projection Andromeda device, volition be the result of bringing cutting-edge collaborative tools to the professional person millennials demanding it.

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Microsoft's ecosystem of collaborative devices and services

In March 2022 I wrote the future of the PC is an intelligent cloud connecting a family of devices. where I shared how Microsoft'southward cloud would be "the PC" supporting collaborative interconnectivity for Microsoft'southward family unit of devices. (See Surface Hub 2 video above). This analysis reflects the reality of the evolving workplace according to a Creative Strategies survey of 1300 consumers:

Millennials have embraced the cloud, which is a core enabler of multi-device workflows...and they see the do good of the cloud ... in the ability to access content from any device they choose.

Tools similar Microsoft Teams, collaborative use of augmented reality via HoloLens, collaboration platforms like Whiteboard and Skype that erase distance and linguistic communication barriers, Microsoft 365, Microsoft's Surface line, the new Windows Collaboration Displays, Remote Assistance and more evangelize the unifying collaboration ecosystem digital natives desire.

Microsoft and Steelcase integrate tech and architecture

Image credits: Microsoft

Microsoft is working with Steelcase to integrate its applied science into Steelcase designed modern workspaces.

Steelcase's Sara Armbruster, vice president, strategy, research & digital transformation wrote, "Together with Microsoft, nosotros're working to aid organizations bridge this gap to bring people, place and technology together holistically, every bit an interconnected ecosystem." To that cease it created various workspaces to support modern office workflows:

Idea Hub: high-tech destination that encourages active participation as people co-create, refine and share ideas with co-located or remote teammates on Surface Hub.
Respite Room: private room that allows relaxed postures to support diffused attending.
Focus Studio: a identify to incubate ideas earlier sharing them; perfect for focused piece of work with Surface Volume or Surface Pro.
Maker Commons: encourages quick switching between chat, experimentation and concentration, and is ideal for a mix of devices similar Surface Hub and Surface Book.
Duo Studio: enables ii people to co-create shoulder-to-shoulder, while too supporting private work with Surface Studio and includes a lounge area to invite others for a quick creative review with Surface Hub.

Though Microsoft is often criticized for its enterprise-focus, collaboration that integrates cutting-edge tech with millenial-friendly flexible workspaces may ultimately appeal to the personal side of the professional millennial. In fact, the Creative Analytics Survey revealed that if employers offered a range of laptops most employees chose Surface Pro.

A workplace for 'digital natives'

Microsoft'due south and Steelcase's investment'south in "flowing" workspaces for diverse trouble-solving/product-development stages (which contrasts stoic traditional offices and cubicles) is congruous with the psychological, emotional and behavioral nature of digital natives. They menstruation through the ever-connected digital world engaging applied science, the web and social media as a natural part of their psychological, emotional and social reality.

A piece of work environment patterned afterward that aforementioned structure meets millennials where they are and encourages the creativity that Microsoft and others consider to exist an invaluable resources. And who knows, if millennials autumn in love with these Microsoft-integrated workspaces, they may autumn in dearest with Microsoft's products.

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