Alternative workplace solutions for university academic staff : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Property Studies at Lincoln University

Abstract

Work roles and patterns are changing dramatically. Australian and New Zealand university academic staff have had their workload and the hours worked in an average working week increased. The nature of their work has radically changed to incorporate greater time on administration and less on research and teaching. Where and how academic staff work is now under review. The office workplace has evolved as tertiary organisations are looking at ways to improve their competitiveness, productivity and to accommodate within building resources the new direction of education delivery. In the 1960's office landscapes experienced new directions with the introduction of the burolandschaft or open office plan design. The office continues to undergo change, with current and emerging trends in technology enabling the development of the non-traditional approach to office space such as the concept of Alternative Workplace Strategies. These strategies provide for a variety of transient work patterns, undertaken at a variety of locations and venues. This research examines recent workplace strategies in tertiary organisations by investigating as a case study, Auckland University of Technology. It also endeavours to understand the changing working environment of academic staff and to ascertain the best-suited workplace approach or approaches. A questionnaire was prepared, circulated to two thirds of AUT academic staff and analysed. The research concludes that AUT academic staff should now be working in a variety of work settings, preferably a blend of the cell and club office arrangement. This approach provides the flexibility in workplace management withou~ causing major changes to the culture and organisational management processes of AUT.