New research from Microsoft Canada and Ipsos Canada reveals fostering creativity at work is key to success

Microsoft Canada released new research in collaboration with Ipsos Canada regarding the biggest changes and challenges in the modern Canadian workplace. The study of 500 Canadian business decision makers found that adapting new cultural and technological changes is key to driving growth and innovation.  A sample of 500 Canadian business decision-makers (BDM) was surveyed online between November 27-30, 2017.

Key research findings:

• Creativity is critical to success in the new economy: the 88 per cent of business leaders say motivating employees to be creative is important for overall success but they struggle to do so –one in four say motivating creativity is one of the biggest challenges in the workplace
• The digital workspace is increasingly important: 86 per cent of business decision makers recognize that technology devices that make it easier for employees to do their job is critical and designing a digital environment that includes upgraded technologies to improve business processes is the highest priority for 65 per cent of Canadian business leaders; only 55 per cent indicated that it’s very important to redesign an office space with fewer walls and more collaborative spaces
• Creativity and collaboration cannot come at the cost of security: 78 per cent of business decision makers see security as a high priority, placing an importance on ensuring their business is protected against data breaches.

According to the research, the overwhelming majority of business decision makers (88 per cent) point to the value of motivating and empowering employees to be their most creative selves as an important factor in creating a successful workplace. Nearly the same number (88 per cent) place an emphasis on leveraging technology for success because it helps employees collaborate with each other regardless of the physical location.

“Business leaders are faced with profound challenges in a rapidly evolving economy and it is critical that they rethink everything from the organization’s culture to the physical and digital tools they provide to their workforce to drive value and stay competitive in this new world of work,” said Jordan Sheridan, General Manager of Modern Workplace, Microsoft Canada. “In response, this represents a fundamental shift in how Microsoft is designing solutions. We’re constantly challenging ourselves to deliver the technology, devices and services that enable businesses and their teams to be better connected, more productive and more secure than ever before.”

Shifting priorities from work places to work spaces

The research, conducted by Ipsos to understand the pressures placed on businesses to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive climate, reveals that as business decision makers consider the evolution of the workplace, it is more important than ever to empower employees with the right spaces and technologies they need to do their jobs. For instance, designing a digital environment that includes upgraded technologies to improve business processes is the highest priority for 65 per cent of Canadian business leaders. More than three-quarters (86 per cent) of business decision makers recognize that technology devices that make it easier for employees to do their job is critical. Additionally, 55 per cent of this same group indicate that it’s very important to redesign an office space with fewer walls and more collaborative spaces. Ultimately, the marrying of the digital and physical is critical to the success of any organization in the modern world. Companies need to lead with the digital tools but it’s important to support this new reality with the physical workspaces that drive creativity and collaboration.  

An example of this is the recent collaboration between Microsoft and Steelcase. The two organizations joined forces to explore the future of work and together they developed a range of technology-enabled spaces to help organizations foster creativity and better collaboration. These spaces seamlessly integrate the best of Microsoft Surface devices with Steelcase architecture and furniture, helping every employee unlock creativity.

“The problems people face at work today are much more complex than they used to be. They require a new creative way of thinking and a very different work process,” said Gale Moutrey, vice president of communications at Steelcase. “Creativity is a process in which anyone can engage and requires diverse work modes as well as different types of technology. People need to work alone, in pairs and in different size groups throughout a creative process, and they need a range of devices that are mobile and integrated into the physical workplace. Additionally, spaces should inspire people without compromising performance. Together, Microsoft and Steelcase are helping organizations thoughtfully integrate place and technology to encourage creative behaviours at work.”