Workplace Geeks
Workplace Geeks is the podcast from Audiem, exploring the people, ideas and evidence shaping the future of work.
Hosted by Chris Moriarty, each episode features conversations with leading researchers, authors, workplace practitioners and business leaders, uncovering practical insights on workplace experience, organisational performance, technology, leadership and the changing nature of work.
From groundbreaking academic research to real-world workplace challenges, Workplace Geeks helps bridge the gap between theory and practice, bringing fresh thinking to the people creating better workplaces and better organisations.
Workplace Geeks
Who's responsible for the cubicle? | with Mark Catchlove
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Following a cracking chat with MillerKnoll's Ryan Anderson in the last episode, this time the Geeks sit down with Mark Catchlove, genuine workplace gentleman and Director of Insight at MillerKnoll, for a fascinating dive into the work and legacy of Robert Propst — Herman Miller’s pioneering Director of Research during the 1960s.
Design polymath Propst’s seminal 1968 book, The office: A facility based on change, was ahead of its time. Designed as a field manual for workplace change, it tackled everything from change, human-centered design, visual display, privacy and involvement, conversation and interaction, health and movement, the role of technology, and leadership culture. And all in a surprisingly slim volume.
In this educational chat Chris, Ian and Mark explore:
- How Propst became Director of Research for Herman Miller
- Mark's involvement in bringing Propst's legacy back to life
- Why The Office is still essential reading for anyone shaping workplace experience
- What today’s workplace strategists can learn from Propst’s provocations
- What a gorilla has to do with expression and personalisation
- Whether it's fair to call Propst 'the inventor of the cubicle' or not...
And to top it off, Dr Dan Wakelin from Isovist is back with Ian on reflection section duties. Yay!
Want to read it for yourself? The office isn't available digitally, and physical copies are increasingly hard to find. Good job that we have three free copies available for you lucky listeners, courtesy of MillerKnoll.
YES! What do I have to do to get one? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Go to the Workplace Geeks page on the iPhone or the desktop app, then scroll down to rate AND review the show. Lemon squeezy.
Winners will be selected and announced in a future episode.
🎧 Dialogue editing by David Crackles
Transcript:
Before we go back to the episode, a quick word about Audium. When people think about workplace feedback, they tend to think about surveys, but some of the richest workplace insight is often hiding in places organizations rarely look. Take FM helpdesk tickets. Every day, employees leave thousands of comments about buildings, technology, catering, cleaning, temperature, meeting rooms, and dozens of other workplace issues. Individually, they're just tickets
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Workplace Geeks is brought to you by Audiem ⚡️
Helping organisations make better workplace decisions through AI-powered insight and employee feedback.
Supported by 2468 Group ☕️
🎧 Dialogue editing by David Crackles