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How can Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) be used to improve happiness and productivity in the workplace?
With the rapid changes in the work environment, companies are paying more and more attention to how to improve employee happiness and productivity. As an effective method, Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) has gradually attracted attention. The origins of POE can be traced back to Scotland and the United States in the 1960s, and is defined as a systematic and rigorous evaluation process of a building after it has been completed and occupied for a period of time. Uniquely, POE is able to make recommendations about the impact of a building on productivity and well-being based on the experience of all stakeholders.
“Post-occupancy assessment can help us discover how buildings truly impact the productivity and well-being of their users.”
Purpose of POE
The purpose of post-occupancy assessment is to improve the building's support for productivity and well-being. Specifically, it includes the following aspects:
- Consider construction quality
- Provide solutions and plans for new construction and renovations
- Solving problems in building use
According to the British Council of Offices (BCO), POE can provide feedback on the effectiveness of the workplace in supporting the needs of the occupying organization and individual users. In addition, POE can also be used to evaluate whether the project brief has been achieved and incorporated into the evidence-based design process.
Stakeholders involved
POE involves all stakeholders who have an interest in the relevant building. These stakeholders usually include:
- Employees working in the building
- Customers, students, patients, etc. receiving services
- Architectural project sponsors, architects, engineers, etc.
- Maintenance managers, workers and cleaning staff
- Future generations (represented by architects)
Components of POE
The POE process provides value-neutral prompts that prompt stakeholders to make testable observations about the building's experience on their productivity and well-being. These observations are specified and documented by the verifier. Stakeholder observations will focus on the design, use and operating conditions of the building and may require "negotiation" of assessments of these three dimensions to maximize productivity and well-being.
"The results of later occupancy assessments often influence the planning and design of future buildings and contribute to the improvement of existing buildings."
Authentication Scheme
Certification schemes such as LEED and WELL incorporate occupier surveys into their certification systems. Among them, LEED v4 provides a survey for occupant comfort, while WELL ensures the overall health of the built environment by requiring occupant surveys.
POE implementation time
The term "post-occupancy" can be confusing, but it actually refers to an occupied building rather than a vacant building. POE can be conducted at any stage of building operations and is specifically designed to understand stakeholder experience in order to provide data support for building improvements.
“Ongoing post-occupancy assessments provide benchmarks and data for future building improvements.”
Independent evaluation
POE is typically conducted by construction professionals with a background in social sciences or workplace consulting, with independent consultants able to provide an objective evaluation. This makes the results of POE more credible and promotes the participation of decision-makers.
Summary
The widespread use of post-occupancy evaluation (POE) shows its potential to improve workplace well-being and productivity. As companies pay more and more attention to employee needs, the implementation of POE can provide valuable insights and help companies make informed choices in design and operations. In the future, how to better apply POE technology to different building types and environments will become a question worthy of our consideration?
