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'Off the shelf' organisational culture?

Steve Boggan at The Times has published an article discussing the merits of Britain's most unusual business development at Chiswick Park in West London. Here, employees are encouraged to enjoy work by participating in games such as giant table football, herding geese round an obstacle course, and jumping 150 ft into a net without a harness whilst colleagues cheer them on.

Here is a "culture and ethos hinged on the notion of providing an environment which actively encourages employees to enjoy work." This "enjoy-work" environment has had a good effect in attracting and retaining staff and Dr Paul Brewerton was asked to give a comment as a professional occupational psychologist who has given advice on work environments to companies such as Orange, Standard Life and the RAF.

Paul refers to Herzberg's "Motivation-Hygiene Theory" which requires all the 'hygiene' factors-including security, salary, status, supervision, administration and working conditions - to be addressed to prevent dissatisfaction amongst employees.

Chiswick Park appear to have successfully addressed these factors, but in order to promote satisfaction and productivity the 'motivation' factors - including sense of achievement, advancement, recognition and being well managed- must also be addressed before workers can be truly happy. These factors are for the individual companies on site to address, and there may well be people who do not join in the events and stay away from it all who are generally unhappy with their jobs.

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