Flexible work means more money, say NZ firms

Adopting more flexible work practices has meant better productivity and revenue, say a majority of NZ firms in a new survey. Photo / Thinkstock

Over two thirds of NZ firms report higher revenues as a result of adopting a flexible approach, while at the same time increasing productivity, according to a survey by Regus, the international serviced office provider.

Nearly 70 per cent of firms also say that flexible work has a positive impact on employee morale, which in turn leads to more motivated staff who are more likely to contribute to future business growth.

Regus, has today launched the Kinetic "Organisation Assessment Tool" in New Zealand to help businesses test how well they are structured for agility, productivity and innovation to enhance growth prospects and increase their bottom-line.

The new online tool is developed by leading workplace thinker Andrew Mawson from Advanced Workplace Associates (AWA) and is based on his global research into the weaknesses of the traditional organisational management model on business success.

"Our research examines how flexible the traditional, hierarchical workplace model is in helping firms spread risk and spur growth to remain competitive," said Mawson.

"Findings show that the traditional model is most commonly adopted by businesses globally but is rigid, expensive, and less effective in meeting the needs of stakeholders compared to a more flexible or 'kinetic' approach - which focuses on the dynamic relationship between workers, managers and the office infrastructure."

The New Zealand Bureau of Statistics has highlighted innovation as an important driver for business productivity, said Mawson. "The 'Kinetic Organisation' approach allows businesses to benchmark their efficiency and develop a stronger, more agile platform for future growth," he said.

Businesses wanting to assess their efficiency and increase their bottom-line can take the Regus Kinetic Challenge, which tests a company's ability to:

• Manage and adapt to new threats and opportunities whilst maintaining a flexible cost base;

• Create an environment where employees are happy to share knowledge and foster innovation;

• Assess and redevelop the business structure depending on the activities, risks and markets in which they operate;

• Constantly review and refine products, services, skills, processes, infrastructure and costs to remain fresh and competitive.

"Based on the results, the tool offers practical advice to businesses on how to improve their organisational structure, by building agility into their operations. Businesses can also track their progress overtime, as well as the level of work needed to strengthen competitiveness in future markets and in changing economic conditions," said Mawson.

See the Kinetic Challenge here.