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New Work Environments: The Economic Relevance of Flexible Office Space

Gauger, Felix (2021)
New Work Environments: The Economic Relevance of Flexible Office Space.
Technische Universität Darmstadt
doi: 10.26083/tuprints-00019705
Ph.D. Thesis, Primary publication, Publisher's Version

Abstract

Technological, societal, and organizational changes have changed the way people accomplish work. Coworking spaces are a response to the new demands that come with these changes.

They are new, flexible workspaces where heterogeneous user work together. In addition to the physical workspace, users benefit from a community and a network of like-minded people. They are worldwide in scope and foster collaboration, creativity, and innovation. To date, there has been a lack of in-depth understanding of how these workspaces contribute to work success and other outcomes such as entrepreneurial activity, or economic growth. In order to comprehensively understand the impact of these new workspaces, it is necessary to grasp and categorize their influence on a wide variety of levels. For this purpose, this dissertation uses five research articles to analyze the significance of coworking spaces on a micro, meso, and macro-level. The first article analyzes user preferences in three different countries using stated choice experiments. This study serves first to understand why individuals use coworking spaces and second, what features of the workspaces are valued by users. This allows coworking space operators to design their spaces in a more targeted way and adapt them to local markets and conditions. The second research article examines coworking spaces from a real estate perspective (meso level). From the perspective of commercial users, the value proposition for firms through the use of coworking spaces is outlined and empirically validated. Furthermore, the business model of flexible office space is examined and the implications for investors of this innovative operating model are elaborated. The third study explores corporate coworking spaces and analyzes determinants that influence job satisfaction in this work environment. The study forms the interface between the micro and meso levels. The fourth article situates coworking spaces for public administration, so-called “public coworking spaces,” in the scientific debate, as knowledge workers in public administration have special requirements that differ from the private sector.

The fifth research article situates coworking spaces in an entrepreneurial context and examines these new work environments on a macro level. It explores how start-ups relate to coworking spaces and how the life cycle stage of start-ups is dependent on the product market competition of coworking spaces. The study finds a positive relation between the number of coworking spaces and start-ups in a region and thus has important implications for economic development and regional growth. This dissertation, therefore, extends the understanding that coworking spaces are more than just physical workspaces. They represent a complex and multi-layered social system that influences individuals, firms, and society on different levels. The systematic examination across all actors and perspectives allows for a holistic picture of these new workspaces as well as their influence on the future development of new work. In addition to the scientific contribution, recommendations for practitioners are given. These are intended to assist decision-makers in the irreversible process of new ways of working.

Item Type: Ph.D. Thesis
Erschienen: 2021
Creators: Gauger, Felix
Type of entry: Primary publication
Title: New Work Environments: The Economic Relevance of Flexible Office Space
Language: English
Referees: Pfnür, Prof. Dr. Andreas ; Stock-Homburg, Prof. Dr. Ruth
Date: 2021
Place of Publication: Darmstadt
Collation: XV, 171, VIII Seiten
Refereed: 15 November 2021
DOI: 10.26083/tuprints-00019705
URL / URN: https://tuprints.ulb.tu-darmstadt.de/19705
Abstract:

Technological, societal, and organizational changes have changed the way people accomplish work. Coworking spaces are a response to the new demands that come with these changes.

They are new, flexible workspaces where heterogeneous user work together. In addition to the physical workspace, users benefit from a community and a network of like-minded people. They are worldwide in scope and foster collaboration, creativity, and innovation. To date, there has been a lack of in-depth understanding of how these workspaces contribute to work success and other outcomes such as entrepreneurial activity, or economic growth. In order to comprehensively understand the impact of these new workspaces, it is necessary to grasp and categorize their influence on a wide variety of levels. For this purpose, this dissertation uses five research articles to analyze the significance of coworking spaces on a micro, meso, and macro-level. The first article analyzes user preferences in three different countries using stated choice experiments. This study serves first to understand why individuals use coworking spaces and second, what features of the workspaces are valued by users. This allows coworking space operators to design their spaces in a more targeted way and adapt them to local markets and conditions. The second research article examines coworking spaces from a real estate perspective (meso level). From the perspective of commercial users, the value proposition for firms through the use of coworking spaces is outlined and empirically validated. Furthermore, the business model of flexible office space is examined and the implications for investors of this innovative operating model are elaborated. The third study explores corporate coworking spaces and analyzes determinants that influence job satisfaction in this work environment. The study forms the interface between the micro and meso levels. The fourth article situates coworking spaces for public administration, so-called “public coworking spaces,” in the scientific debate, as knowledge workers in public administration have special requirements that differ from the private sector.

The fifth research article situates coworking spaces in an entrepreneurial context and examines these new work environments on a macro level. It explores how start-ups relate to coworking spaces and how the life cycle stage of start-ups is dependent on the product market competition of coworking spaces. The study finds a positive relation between the number of coworking spaces and start-ups in a region and thus has important implications for economic development and regional growth. This dissertation, therefore, extends the understanding that coworking spaces are more than just physical workspaces. They represent a complex and multi-layered social system that influences individuals, firms, and society on different levels. The systematic examination across all actors and perspectives allows for a holistic picture of these new workspaces as well as their influence on the future development of new work. In addition to the scientific contribution, recommendations for practitioners are given. These are intended to assist decision-makers in the irreversible process of new ways of working.

Alternative Abstract:
Alternative abstract Language

Technologische, gesellschaftliche und organisatorische Veränderungen haben die Art und Weise, wie Menschen zusammenarbeiten, beeinflusst. Coworking Spaces sind eine Antwort auf die neuen Anforderungen, die mit diesem Wandel einhergehen. Coworking Spaces sind neue, flexible Arbeitsflächen, in denen heterogene Nutzergruppen gemeinschaftlich zusammen arbeiten. Neben dem physischen Arbeitsplatz profitieren die Nutzer von einer Gemeinschaft und einem Netzwerk an Gleichgesinnten. Zudem ermöglicht es tiefergehende Kollaborationen und Innovationen. Bisher mangelt es an einem tiefgreifenden Verständnis, wie diese Arbeitsflächen einen Beitrag für den Arbeitserfolg liefern können und welchen Einfluss sie auf unternehmerische Aktivitäten und regionales Wachstum haben. Um die Auswirkungen dieser neuen Arbeitsflächen ganzheitlich nachvollziehen zu können, ist es notwendig, deren Einfluss auf verschiedensten Ebenen zu verstehen und einzuordnen. Hierzu wird in der vorliegenden Dissertation anhand von fünf Forschungsartikeln die Bedeutung von Coworking Spaces auf einer Mikro-, Meso- und Makroebene analysiert.

German
Status: Publisher's Version
URN: urn:nbn:de:tuda-tuprints-197059
Classification DDC: 300 Social sciences > 330 Economics
600 Technology, medicine, applied sciences > 650 Management
Divisions: 01 Department of Law and Economics
01 Department of Law and Economics > Betriebswirtschaftliche Fachgebiete
01 Department of Law and Economics > Betriebswirtschaftliche Fachgebiete > Fachgebiet Immobilienwirtschaft und Baubetriebswirtschaftslehre
Date Deposited: 25 Nov 2021 13:27
Last Modified: 29 Nov 2021 09:19
PPN:
Referees: Pfnür, Prof. Dr. Andreas ; Stock-Homburg, Prof. Dr. Ruth
Refereed / Verteidigung / mdl. Prüfung: 15 November 2021
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