Small group work areas, surrounded by books,
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The Borgess Health Alliance NavCenterTM facility is located at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan. As Catholic hospital, the long-term plan is to broaden its outreach to a 15-state area through mergers and joining national Catholic organizations. The NavCenterTM concept is supported by the CEO who wants to reach down to all levels of the organization to find new ideas around issues such integration of HR processes, cultures, and values. MG Taylor is working with Borgess to train knowledge workers and other staff in collaborative work methods and work process facilitation. As an important part of this effort, Borgess has an Athenaeum International environment including WorkFurnitureTM, WorkWallsTM, a Cube OfficeTM system, and technology to support a variety of activities in the space. |
Individual work and storage areas help knowledge
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Design
Design with the Borgess team began in November, 1998. The purpose was
to create an environment in which new ideas could flourish, and in which
there was space for short-term large-group events, long term project work,
and individual research and education. With the client, Athenaeum International
did several iterations of the design, including several unique custom items.
Designers also iterated AI items currently in use in other locations both
to improve their quality and appearance, and to meet the needs of this
specific client.
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Working on the full-height WorkWalls helps
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Build
Construction on space was completed in May, 1999 and the furniture delivered
and installed at that time. The Borgess environment will evolve and change
with use. The flexible, adaptable elements that make it can be reconfigured
easily and new elements added when needed without concern about "discontinued"
lines of furniture. The Athenaeum International Glasgow, Kentucky production
facility and DialOne Custom Workshop in Louisville, Kentucky produced both
stock and custom items as required by the client.
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Flexibility in the environment allows staff to
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Use
Borgess clients began using the environment in mid-May with several large events planned over the next few months. A Seven Domains Workshop in late June was used to help Borgess knowledge workers, administrators, executive, and staff become familiar with MG Taylor models and methods. A DesignShop event in late July will focus on alignment of the various parts of the organizations on critical strategic issues. The environment provides a neutral space in which people can create new structures, find solutions for existing problems, build interpersonal bridges, and promote the cultural change necessary to build a truly collaborative organization. The environment signals "there is something different here." |
