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Work environments are a major asset, investment and cost for any organization. Yet time and resources seldom are invested to develop appropriate strategies and plans that would maximizing the effectiveness of workplaces.

One reason is tradition. Typically, developing work environments uses the linear approach of building and construction. Also, the process of constructing or acquiring building space is capital intensive. So, the emphasis of the traditional model is staying on time and on budget through the point of occupancy. It is a project-based, tactical exercise. But the traditional approach is increasingly disconnected from the vision, mission, strategy, goals, objectives and work behaviors of the organization.

Another reason workplaces seldom contribute their full potential is the way they are treated on balance sheets and accounting systems. Accountants treat real estate, facilities and work environments as non-performing assets and fixed costs. To improve their bottom-line performance, businesses often eliminate or dispose of non-performing assets and minimize fixed costs. Thus, the proliferation of activities aimed at either reducing or eliminating the significant costs of work environments from the balance sheet. This is both inappropriate and counter-productive.

We believe work environments are strategic assets.

We believe in today's business climate where organizations are striving to achieve competitive differentiation, work environments represent an untapped resource. When innovation, service quality and customer loyalty need to be encouraged, the traditional metric of cost per square foot as a measure has little relevance. The ability of work environments to positively influence performance, and enable businesses to reach key targets and goals warrants a different approach.

We believe workplaces represent the best opportunity to leverage return on the most valuable and significant asset in any organization – its people. To do this, requires a holistic approach to work environments. Virtually everything an organization does is dependent on and affects the work environment. From technology and human resources to organizational culture, work processes and finance, the workplaces plays a crucial role in how well the organization functions.

We believe this crucial role warrants the investment of time and resources to develop a strategy for aligning decisions about work environments with the goals, objectives and behaviors of the business. Developing a work environment strategy is not a project-based activity. Rather than linear, it should be organic and circular. It should assess and touch on all the elements of the organization. Experience has shown that those organizations willing to change their thinking and adopt a holistic and strategic view of work environments realize a significant return on their efforts.

We know we can assist organizations realize their full potential and maximize the benefits and return on investment in their workplaces.

©2006 HERO, inc.