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LEISURE AT WORKPLACE

Semester IV System Design

Submitted by
Kailasnath M.S
Furniture and Interior Design
Master of Design - ‘14 Batch

A design project done under the guidance of


P. Rama Krishna Rao
SYSTEM DESIGN

A system is a set of elements arranged in a particular


order. They function as a whole. Objective of system
design is to create synergy - an interaction or
cooperation of two or more components to produce
a combined effect greater than the sum of their
separate effects.asd

RESEARCH DOCUMENTATION

ABSTRACT:

1. Understanding the system enviornment.


2. Identifying Elements.
3. Understanding Relationship between elements.

WORKPLACE
‘Industrial and business concerns are complex social bureaucray, administration, and scientific INFORMAL ORGANIZATION
organizations designed to produce goods or provide management.
servces the concerted effort of their members.’ [1] The The classical views of organization either ignore the
formal organization is characterizaed by the following HAWTHORNE EXPERIMENT individual or they make oversimplified assumptions
factors: about him. ‘The outstanding characteristic of man
1. Purpose In 1924 a series of experiments later to be known as is his individuality.’ [2] Personality is formed during
2. Specialization The Hawthorn Studies were carried out at Western infancy and childhood and remains relatively
3. Coordination Electric’s Hawthorn Works in Chicago as part of stable. Some of the socio-psychological aspects
4. Order scientific management. The point that gradually acts as motives for members to adjust within an
5. Authority emerged from the studies was to regard a business organization.
6. Uniformity organization as a social system. 1. Need for Afflition
7. Replaceability 2. Ego-Relevant Motives
8 Compensation The Hawthorne research scientifically documented 3. Power Motives
9. Technology this human aspect of organization. The new way of 4. Curiosity
10. Signs & symbols thinking allowed the satisfaction and dissatisfaction 5. Security
of workers to be thought about in a relationship to 6. Emotion
The organization is made efficient through output and productivity. 7. Economic Motives
WORKPLACE OF 21ST CENTUARY HOMO LUDEN - Playing Man geography, politics, sociology, etc to name a few.
Hence, there is no collective agreement about how
Three events in 1997 set the scene for next Dubin (1956) [8] and Wilensky (1960)[9] confronted to define leisure.
paradigm shift in workplace environment. Firstly, social groups with the question whether work was
in 1997, Tony Blair was elected with a mandate to their ‘central life interest’, higher percentage of Leisure is characterized by three key aspects.
modernise Britain, a policy focused on the shift professional occupation stressed work as centrally Hedonism, that is desirability and pursuit of
from manufacturing industries of Industrial age to important while rates were far lower among non pleasure. Secondly,humanism which celebrates
knowledge based service industry, a strategy that manual and manaul workers. The later two groups diversity in human experience. The third, liberlism -
would be replicated across the world. Today services were likely to find satisfaction in the worlds of leisure acknowledging that each individual is the best judge
make up approximately two-thirds of the global and family. of what is pleasurable for himself and choosing for
economic output. ‘In the information age service oneself is an intrinsic quality of leisure.
economy, work is much more flexible, favouring more By late twentieth centuary with de-industrialization,
fluid schedules and multitasking, in which workers employement is more flexible.Work is no longer Leisure study can be mapped out as three broad
are expected to perform several jobs more or less central to indviduals, communities or classes. overlapping fields of research. Liesure was defined
simultaneously and respond to immediate demands Language, communication, and play are at the center as residual time. Secondly it is participation in leisure
as they arise rather than coordinate their work solely of human culture.[7] activities. The third theme fouses on nature ofleisure
by the clock.’[3] expeirience. Leisure must be ‘qualitive time’ rather
Further, in his book Leisure and Culture (2000), Prof. than just ‘free time’.[ 6]
Secondly, Steve Jobs returned to apple. Innovation Chris Rojek maps out two ideal types of humanity:
and creativity became a corporate mantra. ‘Offices homo faber and homo ludens.
that include stimulating objects such as journals,
art, games and other items – some of which may not Table 1
even be directly related to your business – serve as
sources of inspiration. In addition, structuring the Homo faber (Marx) Homo luden (Huizinga)
work area by removing physical barriers between Realm of necessity Realm of freedom
people will improve communication and promote Work and employment Play and creativity
creative interaction.’[4]
Material production Cultural production
Thirdly, the death of Princess Diana, the global Scientific knowledge and Artistic knowledge and
emblem of vulnerability marked the cultural shift rationality emotion
from head to heart. Organizations are creating Technological control of Aesthetic judgement of
environments that support positive emotions. nature and enviornment nature and enviornment
Spatial design is one often overlooked aspect in
the culture shift from stifling emotions to embracing LEISURE
and supporting it. The new emotionally intelligent Thus, leisure can be defined in terms of:
workspaces promote socializing; encourage sense of Leisure study as a subjects spreads into the domain Leisure time
belongingness and purpose; and suits mindfulness.[5] of various disciplines; psychology, economics, Leisure activity
Leisure experience
LEISURE TIME this is a postmodern sleight of hand designed to
Voluntary work 0.15 0.20 manipulate and disarm staff. By fabricating the
In contrast to the industrial work pattern of Monday Travel 1.32 1.22 illusion of employer as friend, the employed is denied
to Friday and ‘nine-til-five’, contemporary workplace Other 0.13 0.15 the opportunity to protest, argue, fight, be adversarial
is characterized by flexible work practices in a and demand more of their working conditions. These
24/7 society. The rigid time and space boundaries LEISURE EXPERIENCE - FLOW informal spaces are political spaces of control,
between work and leisure became increasingly surveillance and manipulation.[15]
blurred. The advancement in communication Flow is what gives us zest for life-enjoyment
technology became a two sided sword. It gives the not pleasure, fulfilment not frustration, activity EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE & EMOTIONAL
flexibility to be mobile but individuals are expected not relaxation. Flow involves auto-telic behavior LABOUR
to be contactable at anytime, including evenings and - the individual’s complete absorption in doing
weekends, and to respond immediately. somethingfor its own sake, with a loss of self People who have developed skills related to
conciousness and any sense of time. It is an optimal emotional intelligence understand and express
Table 2 UK time use survey, people agd 16 and over experience: ‘people become so involved in what they their own wmotions, revognize emotions in others,
(2005)[16] are doing that the activity becomes spontaneous, regulate effect, and use moods and emotions to
almost automatic; they stop being aware of motivate adaptive behaviors.[12]
Activity Hr:Mins / Day themselves as seperate from the actions they are
Males Females performing’ Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1992:53) [6] [10] Emotional labor requires one to induce or suppress
Sleep 8.04 8.18 feeling in order to sustain the outward countenance
that produces the proper state of mind in others.
Resting 0.3 0.48
This kind of labor calls for a coordination of mind and
Personal care 0.40 0.48
feeling, and it sometimes draws on a source of self at
Eating/ drinking 1.25 1.19 we honor as deep and integral to our individuality.[13]
Wating TV/DVD; listening to 2.50 2.25
radio/ music PROFESSIONAL MASK
Social life, entertainment/ 1.22 1.32
culture Professionals represents themselves and are
Hobbies & games 0.37 0.23 percieved by the world through images - mask over
Sports 0.13 0.07 true self. It is expressed through language, attitude,
Reading 0.23 0.26 and world view.[14] The professional persona is a
consciously framed projection of psychic content.
LEISURE ACTIVITIES
All Leisure 5.25 4.53
The display of credibility, relevance and competence
Slavoj Žižek, a slovanian psychoanalytic philosopher, in our ‘voluntarily’ chosen ‘free’ time activities
Emploment and study 3.45 2.26 suggests that the environment of the workplace ‘speak’ to others about who we are, what we hold
Housework 1.41 3.00 has been twisted, using architectural devices, to to be valuable and how we can make a difference.
Childcare 0.15 0.32 manipulate employees. Kitchens, ‘break-out spaces’, Leisure demands emotional intelligence and
lounges, free food, free coffee – he postulates that emotional labour.`
INTERVIEWS During free time, I talked to friends, went to cafe SURVEY - EMOTIONS AT WORK
coffee day (there was one on every floor.) Friendship
In order to understand the context better, PG circles were mainly team members. older people Emotions at work may have been produced
students with one ormore years of work experience remained formal friends while others were more elsewhere. Hence, rather than studying emotions
are asked a very open ended questions. 1) ‘How did closer. sameage group friends extended their at work in generic terms, it is studied in relation
you fit into the workplace?’, and 2) ‘How did you friendship beyong workplace. Seniors resorted to with the spaces within workplace. Towards this
spend your free time?’. Following are the responces professional mask to keep distance and authority. end a questionnaire is deviced. From a list of 165
and insights from the interview. Break time conversations were very casual, emotions, participants were asked to identify those
oftenabout personal and private life. In my opinion which can be associated with workspace. The same
these details are inappropriate e for workplace association excercise is done again with Leisure
I used to have lunch time stress-It was difficult conversations. spaces within workplace.
to bond with much stereotypical nine-til-five
employees. They are family oriented. Their social TCS enviornment is very rigid. The aawareness of List of Emotions
protocols and etiquettes were different. I was a pressure, responsibility, structure, was a constant Curiosity Hate Affection
cultural misfit. I needed someone to confide and I suffocation. I hated my work and workplace. It was
Attraction Irritation Adoration
wanted to vent out emotions. There was a constant a monotoneous job by the salary was good. I had
Admiration Helplessness Fondness
fear of judgement. As a fresher, I was yet to learn to keep a happuy face. Unhappy people vented out
work tricks and workspace politics. I spent my frustration and were involved in office politics. Aversion Powerlessness Liking
leisure listening to music, browsing internet, reading Indifference Doubt Attractiveness
at the library and taking short walk outdoors. -Amrita Warrier, 3 years experience at TCS Familiarity Boredom Caring
` Habituation Stress Tenderness
- Naina Bahn, 1 year experience working in a Delhi Social circles were 1) friends from college, 2) Gratitude Tension Compassion
based NGO. training classmates, and 3) project team members. Thankfulness Empathy Sentimentality
Considerable emotional intelligence and labour Self-confidence Friendliness Lust
In India only 50% of time was spent on work. was required. Seniors should be politely handled Sociability Love Desire
Everyone pretended to work. I used to doodle, read and manipulated. Juniors should be treated strictly.
Generosity Courage Passion
online about new technologies, meet friends in other Leisure time gives the freedom to be genuine and
departments,and take short walk to drink water every natural. There were competitions, common birthday Avarice Trust Infatuation
hour. In Germany 90% of office hours was spend celebrations, buddy system and ‘Wah’ points to Greed Calmness Longing
on work. All the amenities were provided in close promote interaction and bonding. Miserliness Relaxation Cheerfulness
proximities. The company policy was to provide Cruelty Serenity Amusement
freedom but to hold responsible. I felt loss of dignity Sympathy Terror Suspense
wearing ID card on neck. Rather than an access - Neela Tayade, 3 yrs experience at Cognizant Alarm Panic Uneasiness
privilage, it felt like a leash. Job satisfactions and Shock Hysteria Apprehension
generous allowances appealed more than the actual Emotions at work have a significant impact on Fear Mortification Worry
remuneration. personal well being as well as productivity. The Fright Nervousness Distress
emotions are contextual. It changes with space Horror Anxiety Dread
-Kiran Rajagopalan, 4 years experience at Bosch and time. It is dynamic in nature.
100% 100%
Bliss Astonishment Anguish
Gaiety Irritability Hurt 90% 90%
Glee Aggravation Sadness 80% Carried Over 80% Carried Over
Jolliness Agitation Depression Negative Negative
70% Emotion 70% Emotion
Joviality Annoyance Despair
Joy Grouchy Gloom Carried Over 60% Carried Over
60%
Positive Positive
Delight Grumpy Glumness Emotion Emotion
50% 50%
Enjoyment Crosspatch Unhappy
Negative Negative
Gladness Exasperation Grief 40%
Emotion
40%
Emotion
Happiness Frustration Sorrow 30% 30%
Jubilation Rage Woe Positive
Positive
Elation Anger Misery 20% 20%
Emotion Emotion
Satisfaction Outrage Melancholy 10% 10%
Ecstasy Fury Disappointment
0% 0%
Euphoria Wrath Dismay
Work Liesure Work Liesure
Zest Hostility Displeasure - Pooja Bonde, Architect - Nitish Patil, I.T.
Enthusiasm Ferocity Shame
100% 100%
Zeal Bitter Guilt
Excitement Hatred Regret 90% 90%
Thrill Scorn Remorse Carried Over Carried Over
80% 80%
Exhilaration Spite Neglect Negative Negative
70% Emotion 70% Emotion
Contentment Vengefulness Alienation
Pleasure Dislike Defeatism 60% Carried Over Carried Over
60%
Positive Positive
Pride Resentment Dejection Emotion
50% 50% Emotion
Triumph Disgust Embarrassment
Negative Negative
Optimism Revulsion Homesickness 40% 40%
Emotion Emotion
Eagerness Contempt Humiliation 30% 30%
Hope Loathing Insecurity Positive Positive
20% 20%
Enthrallment Envy Insult Emotion Emotion
Rapture Jealousy Isolation 10% 10%
Relief Torment Loneliness 0% 0%
Surprise Suffering Rejection Work Liesure Work Liesure
Amazement Agony Pity
- Harjot Sigh, Architect - Naina Bahn, Communication and Media
The list of emotions are catagorized into negative
and positive emotions. Upon analysing the data, a
few emotions were common in both spaces; possibly
carried over between work and leisure. They are`
further analysed as negative and positive carryover.

The study affirms leisure’s positive impact on


emotions. Further it reveals leisure’s role in emotional
balance as a medium for social interaction or
personal indulgence .

CONCLUSION
Workplace is a social system, where humane
aspects of employees plays a pivotal role in creating
synergetic functioning. Meeting people’s socio-
psychological needs by creating policies and
enviornment fosters increase in performance and
output.

A healthy workplace have to take care of people’s


physical as well as psychological well being.
Emotional stability of individuals is a crucial factor
in the overall performance. The work enviornment
should provide means necessary to balance out
various emotions that are produced as part of work.

Leisure, an antoym of work, ironically increases


productivity. Spending less than 15% of total work
hours has a benificial impact on productivity.[17]

This is largely due to tthe fact that emotions are


phases which changes with space and time. A
short break refreshes the mood and emotions. The
sense of belongingness and the sense of ownership
have rejuvinating effects. They assure positivity and
strengthens individuals at emotional level.
SCOPE OF FURNITURE DESIIGN
IN CREATING SENSE OF OWNERSHIP

PERSONAL SPACE
PERSONAL SPACE - PROXIMICS
PERSONAL SPACE - PROXIMICS
ANTHROPOMETRIC VALUES
INITIAL CONCEPTS
INITIAL CONCEPTS

The design focused on modularity while creating a


micro space. It is not possible for a square seating
to have a flat backrest with inclination without
compromising modularity. Backrest angle was
achieved by circumscribing a circle around the
square base.(Diagonal length of square and radius of
the circle remains the same. Hence the corner joint is
straight up on Z axis)
The layout consist of an ambient setting, dominated
by a flowing surface which wraps around
comfortable and cozy little spaces suitable for
crouching in, leaning on or climbing up. Another
element of the setting is a seating which can adapt
into sociofugal and socipetal layouts. The seating
promotes interactions and socializing when the
backrest is turned down. With the backrest put
up, it gives seclusion and suits mindful relaxation.
Ancillery elements like planter boxes, side furnitures
wall decorations etc can suppliment the setting.
The setting creates an enviornment for leisure but
not the leisure itself, for it is upto the user to decide
what leisure they enjoy.
REFERENCES
1. Arnold S. Tannenbaum, Social psychology of
work organization.
2. George W. Allport, Personality, A psychological
interpretation.
3. [http://www.encyclopedia.com/
doc/1G2-3405300236.html]
4. [http://www.businessdictionary.com/article/657/
creativity-and-innovation-in-the-workplace/]
5. [http://www.fastcompany.com/3029384/work-
smart/how-to-design-your-workspace-to-encourage-
positive-emotions-at-work]
6. Peter Bramham/ Stephen Wagg,An introduction to
Leisure Studies.
7. Chris Rojek, Leisure and Culture
8. Robert Dubin, Industrial Workers’ Worlds: A Study
of the “Central Life Interests” of Industrial Workers
9. Detroit Area Study, 1960: Labor and Leisure in
the Urban Community, A Study of Social Order and
Social Change
10. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology
of happiness
11. Chris Rojek, The labour of Leisure
12. Peter Salovey / John D. Mayer, Emotional
Intelligence.
13. Arlie Russell Hochschild, The managed heart:
commercialization of human feeling.
14. James R. Elkins, The Legal Persona: An Essay
On The Professional Mask
15. Andrew Maynard, [http://www.archdaily.
com/234633/worklifework-balance/]
16.UK National Statistics Office: www.statistics.gov.
uk
17. Angela R. Lebbon / Dene T. Hurley, The effects of
workplace leisure behavior on work-related behavior

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