Experiencing smart working: a case study on workplace change management in Italy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to share the insights gained by a recent research and consultancy work performed by the authors accompanying an organization in workplace change management. The inception of the new ways of working may lead a company to rethink the office space toward downsizing, with the main objectives to shrink occupancy costs and enhance workers’ productivity. The shift to a new office building and a smart working model needs to be well managed and verified ex-post. The application of a post-occupancy study can help fine-tune real and perceived quality with the enhancement of both space and people’s performance. Design/methodology/approach – The experience is presented as a case study. Data have been collected through the triangulation of different methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative. Walk-throughs, observations, questionnaires, interviews and focus groups have been conducted. Interpolation and interpretation of all the information obtained led to a critical synthesis that this paper aims at disclosing. Findings – Inter-disciplinary collaboration between corporate real estate, facilities management and human resources departments, with employees’ involvement, has been fundamental for gaining useful insights. Research limitations/implications – It is necessary to extend the sample to obtain information at an epidemiological level. Originality/value – The research can be considered one of the few Italian contributions to the field of post-occupancy studies. Moreover, it can give new indications about the evolution of workplace features in an Italian context

Who talks about collaborative spaces, how, and why

Communities in urban contexts and firms in corporate offices have recently started to implement collaborative spaces. Several authors from different disciplines are currently advancing knowledge in this realm. Systematizing this diverse knowledge base helps to advance our understanding of this novel phenomenon. To this end, the present work reviews 29 papers focusing on collaborative spaces. We analyse these papers in terms of contents, research methods, fields of study, authors’ background, and impact on the academic community. Grounding on this analysis, we outline new relevant research questions and opportunities for future investigations

Molecular phylogeny of the genus Saguinus (Platyrrhini, Primates) based on the ND1 mitochondrial gene and implications for conservation

The systematics of the subfamily Callitrichinae (Platyrrhini, Primates), a group of small monkeys from South America and Panama, remains an area of considerable discussion despite many investigations, there being continuing controversy over subgeneric taxonomic classifications based on morphological characters. The purpose of our research was to help elucidate the phylogenetic relationships within the monkey genus Saguinus (Callitrichinae) using a molecular approach to discover whether or not the two different sections containing hairy-faced and bare-faced species are monophyletic, whether Saguinus midas midas and Saguinus bicolor are more closely related than are S. midas midas and Saguinus midas niger, and if Saguinus fuscicollis melanoleucus and Saguinus fuscicollis weddelli really are different species. We sequenced the 957 bp ND1 mitochondrial gene of 21 Saguinus monkeys (belonging to six species and nine morphotypes) and one Cebus monkey (the outgroup) and constructed phylogenetic trees using maximum parsimony, neighbor joining, and maximum likelihood methods. The phylogenetic trees obtained divided the genus Saguinus into two groups, one containing the small-bodied species S. fuscicollis and the other, the large-bodied species S. mystax, S. leucopus, S. oedipus, S. midas, S. bicolor. The most derived taxa, S. midas and S. bicolor, grouped together, while S. fuscicollis melanoleucus and S. f. weddelli showed divergence values that did not support the division of these morphotypes into subspecies. On the other hand, S. midas individuals showed divergence compatible with the existence of three subspecies, two of them with the same morphotype as the subspecies S. midas niger. The results of our study suggest that there is at least one Saguinus subspecies that has not yet been described and that the conservation status of Saguinus species and subspecies should be carefully revised using modern molecular approaches

Polimorfismos bioquímicos e o relacionamento genético entre raças suínas brasileiras e estrangeiras criadas no Brasil

The genetic variability of 14 protein systems encoded by 15 structural loci was investigated in blood samples of Piau and Caruncho pig breeds. The results were compared with those obtained previously for samples of Landrace, Large White, Duroc and Mouro. The degree of genetic variability obtained for Piau (He=0.114) was similar to that estimated for other breeds reared in Brazil (Landrace, He=0.116; Large White, He=0.119; Duroc, 0.095; Mouro, He= 0.130). Caruncho showed the lowest variability (He= 0.056). The gene frequencies at the polymorphic loci were used to evaluate the usefulness of these systems for paternity testing and the combined probabilities of paternity exclusion were estimated at 58% for the Piau and 36% for the Caruncho breed. Analysis of genetic distances revealed that the greatest similarity observed was between Piau and Landrace (D=0.042). Caruncho showed the greatest divergence among all breeds compared and the distances between this breed and others range from 0.107 (with Landrace) to 0.176 (with Duroc). The tree constructed by UPGMA and Rogers Distance gave a topology in which Piau and Mouro joined with the European breeds (Landrace and Large White) whereas Caruncho was separated from all the other breeds. The results of the analysis of the Caruncho samples should be interpreted with caution since the number of animals studied was small.Foi investigada a variabilidade genética de 14 sistemas protéicos codificados por 15 locos estruturais em amostras de sangue de suínos das raças Piau e Caruncho. Os resultados foram comparados com àqueles obtidos previamente para amostras de Landrace, Large White, Duroc e Mouro. O grau de variabilidade genética obtida para Piau (He=0,114) foi similar àquelas estimadas para outras raças criadas no Brasil (Landrace, He=0,116; Large White, He=0,119; Duroc, 0,095; Mouro, He= 0,130). Caruncho apresentou a menor variabilidade (He= 0,056). A partir das freqüências gênicas dos locos polimórficos, foi calculada a eficiência de cada sistema para testes de paternidade e as probabilidades combinadas de exclusão de paternidade foram estimadas em 58% para Piau e 36% para Caruncho. Análises das distâncias genéticas revelaram que a raça mais próxima da Piau foi a Landrace (D=0,042). Caruncho apresentou as maiores divergências em relação a todas as raças comparadas, que variaram de 0,107 (com Landrace) a 0,176 (com Duroc). A árvore construída através de UPGMA e Distância de Rogers mostrou uma topologia na qual Piau e Mouro se uniram as raças Européias (Landrace e Large White), e Caruncho está separado de todas as demais raças. Os resultados das análises das amostras de Caruncho devem ser interpretados com cautela, uma vez que o número de animais estudados foi pequeno

A Place for the Workplace to Work. A system of performance indicators for strategic design, management and use of the workplace

New and easily applicable ways to attune the in-use quality of office buildings are needed in order to improve space, business and people performance. This research proposes a framework for key performance indicators (KPIs) to support decision-making processes in the design, management, and use of next-generation workplaces. Office space has been going through radical changes lately. Recent financial constraints have contributed to modifying corporate real estate strategies and the traditional role of the workplace. Moreover, disruptive advancements in the Information-Communication Technology field have led to three main consequences. (A) New ‘smart’ ways of working are influencing the traditional office space in both quantitative and qualitative terms. (B) New communication modes and feedback channels empower clients and users of services/facilities. (C) New data are available and suitable to create value, which increases the importance of updated information. These trends converge in the workplace that is expected to evolve according to both organizations’ needs and people’s preferences. For these reasons, there is growing interest in studying the ongoing changes of the work environment and how its users perceive it. In fact, various users hold a stake on workplaces, but research to date has not clarified who they are, with respect to their actual roles and responsibilities, and values and needs. Also, several kinds of performances get measured by organizational managers, corporate real estate managers, and facility managers. Though, the related indicators often remain separate in the respective disciplines and at a raw stage of elaboration, thus cannot be exploited to their maximum potential. How are today’s workplaces adapting to the mutable needs of their demanding users? Who are workplace users? How can we better design, manage, and use today’s and tomorrow’s workplaces? These are the main questions this study aims at answering to. The goal of the research is twofold: first to acknowledge workplace users; second, to select interdisciplinary indicators that all these users deem important in workplace-making, and to systematize these into a manageable list. The methodology applied to address this double objective develops throughout subsequent steps of investigation. A triangulation of research strategies is employed. Preliminary review of literature helps set a framework about the changing panorama of the workplace. In a next research phase, the characteristics of workplace users are examined through case studies. In the final phase, KPIs are extracted and elaborated by applying a Delphi technique. Finally, the research provides a set of key indicators enabling the compound of different workplace users’ perspectives into a unified system. This model is suitable to assisting the design, management, and use of next-generation workplaces, while enhancing the relationship between workplaces and their users.New and easily applicable ways to attune the in-use quality of office buildings are needed in order to improve space, business and people performance. This research proposes a framework for key performance indicators (KPIs) to support decision-making processes in the design, management, and use of next-generation workplaces. Office space has been going through radical changes lately. Recent financial constraints have contributed to modifying corporate real estate strategies and the traditional role of the workplace. Moreover, disruptive advancements in the Information-Communication Technology field have led to three main consequences. (A) New ‘smart’ ways of working are influencing the traditional office space in both quantitative and qualitative terms. (B) New communication modes and feedback channels empower clients and users of services/facilities. (C) New data are available and suitable to create value, which increases the importance of updated information. These trends converge in the workplace that is expected to evolve according to both organizations’ needs and people’s preferences. For these reasons, there is growing interest in studying the ongoing changes of the work environment and how its users perceive it. In fact, various users hold a stake on workplaces, but research to date has not clarified who they are, with respect to their actual roles and responsibilities, and values and needs. Also, several kinds of performances get measured by organizational managers, corporate real estate managers, and facility managers. Though, the related indicators often remain separate in the respective disciplines and at a raw stage of elaboration, thus cannot be exploited to their maximum potential. How are today’s workplaces adapting to the mutable needs of their demanding users? Who are workplace users? How can we better design, manage, and use today’s and tomorrow’s workplaces? These are the main questions this study aims at answering to. The goal of the research is twofold: first to acknowledge workplace users; second, to select interdisciplinary indicators that all these users deem important in workplace-making, and to systematize these into a manageable list. The methodology applied to address this double objective develops throughout subsequent steps of investigation. A triangulation of research strategies is employed. Preliminary review of literature helps set a framework about the changing panorama of the workplace. In a next research phase, the characteristics of workplace users are examined through case studies. In the final phase, KPIs are extracted and elaborated by applying a Delphi technique. Finally, the research provides a set of key indicators enabling the compound of different workplace users’ perspectives into a unified system. This model is suitable to assisting the design, management, and use of next-generation workplaces, while enhancing the relationship between workplaces and their users.DIPARTIMENTO DI ARCHITETTURA, INGEGNERIA DELLE COSTRUZIONI E AMBIENTE COSTRUITO30CIARAMELLA, GIANANDREADE ANGELIS, ENRIC

RADIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS IN FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY. FRACTURE HEALING AND DATING

The accurate dating of bone fractures constitutes a critical component of trauma analysis in forensic anthropology and the research in this field represents to date a challenging opportunity to apply scientific knowledge and methods to real problems of society, including also global humanitarian and human rights issues. However, the literature review performed in order to describe the state of the art in fracture healing and dating showed that forensic studies are scarce and that the assessment of fractures lacks consensus about both the definition of fracture healing and the duration of the fracture healing process. Thus, the aim of the present PhD project, including two research lines, was to acquire a better knowledge of the process of bone remodeling both in the living and the dead with regard to the timing of injury as well as to evaluate the applicability of high-resolution radiological techniques for objective dating of the healing phase of the fracture. The 1 st retrospective study, dedicated to the living, was based on digital radiographs from the largest adult living population ever analyzed and was aimed not only at examining time frames for healing of bone fractures but also at investigating the effect of variables, including age, sex, bone type and number of fracures on the timing of healing stages of traumatic skeletal lesions. For these purposes a multivariable model was built, which showed a significant association between the healing stages and the variables analyzed, so that a dynamic nomogram was preliminary proposed to predict a time interval since fracture from digital radiographs. The 2 nd experimental study, dedicated to the dead, was based on dry human bones presenting calluses of different known age in order to preliminary assess the potential of an advanced and non-destructive imaging technology, like microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), in order to obtain a future objective dating of the healing phase of the fracture on post-cranial human bone calluses of known age. The results not only demonstrated the potential utility of micro-CT to obtain a wealth of qualitative details about the microstructure of the callus but also to reach an objective fracture dating, laying promising foundations for further studies on this topic in light of the highlighted existence of a certain trend of some parameters of trabecular microstructure relative to the age of the callus, including the degree of anisotropy, the connectivity and the trabecular spacing

Changing academics’ ways of working: towards a distributed university campus

Academics are a peculiar category of knowledge workers whose work, by nature, is characterized by undefined time and space and includes individual and collaborative activities. Over the past decades, academics have progressively evolved their typically university-centric way of working towards a hybrid, spatially distributed model that includes home and other spaces. The spread of the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the redrawing of the geography of workspaces for academics and has opened up opportunities to enable creative, innovative and socially sustainable ways of working. Indeed, working from other spaces than the official workplace can not only have positive impacts on productivity, creativity, and collaboration of academics and staff, but also increase the attractiveness and inclusivity of university campuses by proposing a campus model that is spread across the territory according to the individual needs of its users. While there are already some cases where university campuses accommodate coworking spaces, libraries and innovation hubs within them, evidence of academics using other spaces off-campus is scarce. This research investigates whether, and to what extent, the use of off-campus spaces by Italian academics is a likely and desirable prospect for the future, based on how much their way of doing research has evolved during the Covid-19 pandemic towards a multi-local way of working. A questionnaire was distributed among Italian tenured academics. This chapter presents a quantitative and qualitative interpretative analysis of the data collected from 1,199 answers to this questionnaire. Results describe different profiles of multi-local Italian academics, in relation to the types of location they work from, the experience they had during the Covid-working period and the future they wish for at university campuses. The evidence on multi-local work presented in this chapter shows implications both for academic staff and for university management. The former could approach work in a more distributed way such as it would extend university campuses to an urban and extra-urban dimension. The latter are called upon to meet the needs of their staff using socially sustainable ways of managing their facilities within and beyond campus boundaries