Relationship between the performative nature of contemporary culture and new workplace architectural forms
This paper will be discussing the relationship between the performative nature of contemporary culture and new workplace architectural forms. The first half would be exploring and illustrating what is the nature of our contemporary culture now and the second half would be about how it could further link it to the new workplace architectural forms nowadays.
In the 21st century, while technology is rapidly developed, everything become faster as the Internet has accelerated everything, and so as our economy. It is “the time when the emergency become the rule.” (Thrift, 2000) According to Thrift, the contemporary management is “an attempt to engineer new kinds of ‘fast ‘subject positions which can cope with the disciplines of permanent emergency. And even the society’s ideal human subject constituted by management today is ‘the one who never stands still’. (Thrift, 2000) It gives the sense that one has to go further and faster.
From Collin’s paper, “Built to Flip”, it is questioned that the companies nowadays built to ‘flip’ instead of ‘built to last’. Indeed, this article shows the significance of the overwhelming phenomenon of fast-moving companies in the contemporary culture, and it is believed that the creative drive behind has transformed our economy, which is known as the ‘new economy’. (Collins, 2000)
So what exactly is ‘new economy’? It is suggested in Thrift’s paper that the ‘new economy’ is a cultural process characterized by speed. Speed is a crucial term here as it changes everything from values, products, services and even the managerial style of managers. It is suggested that the value of every object nowadays is different from the past. Value has been re-conceptualised as always requiring an addition (i.e. added value). Every product or services are to be displayed as extraordinary, and hence bring out the idea of ‘fast subjects’. It is difficult to define what exactly are ‘fast subjects’, but according to Thrift, ‘fast subjects’ are formed through
In the 21st century, while technology is rapidly developed, everything become faster as the Internet has accelerated everything, and so as our economy. It is “the time when the emergency become the rule.” (Thrift, 2000) According to Thrift, the contemporary management is “an attempt to engineer new kinds of ‘fast ‘subject positions which can cope with the disciplines of permanent emergency. And even the society’s ideal human subject constituted by management today is ‘the one who never stands still’. (Thrift, 2000) It gives the sense that one has to go further and faster.
From Collin’s paper, “Built to Flip”, it is questioned that the companies nowadays built to ‘flip’ instead of ‘built to last’. Indeed, this article shows the significance of the overwhelming phenomenon of fast-moving companies in the contemporary culture, and it is believed that the creative drive behind has transformed our economy, which is known as the ‘new economy’. (Collins, 2000)
So what exactly is ‘new economy’? It is suggested in Thrift’s paper that the ‘new economy’ is a cultural process characterized by speed. Speed is a crucial term here as it changes everything from values, products, services and even the managerial style of managers. It is suggested that the value of every object nowadays is different from the past. Value has been re-conceptualised as always requiring an addition (i.e. added value). Every product or services are to be displayed as extraordinary, and hence bring out the idea of ‘fast subjects’. It is difficult to define what exactly are ‘fast subjects’, but according to Thrift, ‘fast subjects’ are formed through
References: Camenzind Evolution (2008): Google Zurich – an inside look at the new Google Office in Zurich. (Online Video). 30 Oct. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRU8jOaG_yA. (Accessed on 30 Dec 2014) Collins, J. (2000): Built to Flip, A Battle is Under Way for the New Economy. Which Side are you on?, ‘Fast Company’ Costea, B Dallas, K. 2001. The Impact of Workspace Enclosure on the Work Effectiveness of Computer Engineers, Unpublished Master’s Thesis, Department of Design and Howkins J., (2002) The Creative Economy: How People Make Money from Ideas, Penguin, London Muoio A., (2000) ‘Idea Summit’, Fast Company, 31:150-94 Thrift, N. (1997): ‘The rise of soft capitalism’, Cultural Values, 1(1): 29-57 Thrift, N Thrift, N. (2000): “Performing Cultures in the New Economy”, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 201-231. Yukl, G. 1998. Leadership in Organizations, Fourth Edition ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.