Coworking: A Case Study at The Ground
(2020) MGTN59 20201Department of Business Administration
- Abstract
- PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of coworking space as it relates to meeting the common goals of collaboration, community, and creativity for its members. Through a case study of a coworking space, the study seeks answers to questions as: “How can coworking spaces enhance community, collaboration, and creativity to create a better experience for their members?” and “Are there any common goals or values of the chosen coworking company and its members?” The study will review the concepts of community, collaboration, and creativity, referred to as the three C’s, as well as physical space. A case study narrative describes the background and history of the chosen coworking space for the case study, The Ground,... (More) - PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of coworking space as it relates to meeting the common goals of collaboration, community, and creativity for its members. Through a case study of a coworking space, the study seeks answers to questions as: “How can coworking spaces enhance community, collaboration, and creativity to create a better experience for their members?” and “Are there any common goals or values of the chosen coworking company and its members?” The study will review the concepts of community, collaboration, and creativity, referred to as the three C’s, as well as physical space. A case study narrative describes the background and history of the chosen coworking space for the case study, The Ground, located in Malmö, Sweden.
METHODOLOGY
This study relies on data from interviews, surveys, an observation, photographs, and a floor plan of The Ground’s space. The three C’s serve as the basis for the interview and survey questions. The open interviews and surveys are analyzed using a coding analysis. The observation is presented using a lived visual narrative approach. The spatial data, photographs and the floor plan, are evaluated using a spatial analysis methodology.
FINDINGS
The coworking case study location, The Ground, offers co-location and the space facilitates opportunities for social interactions, which its members value. The space is mostly open and full of life and fosters creativity, and members share ideas and inspiration. Organizations at The Ground reflect the theme of openness, and have open management styles with low hierarchies. Members collaborate within and outside of their organizations, including contractual and non-contractual work. The members have built relationships and co-constructed their community. Members have created a collective identity, referring to themselves as Groundlings. The Ground was built upon increasing diversity and inclusion, and members value this. Freedom to use and personalize The Ground’s space allows for members to better meet their organization’s needs. Additionally, the members value freedom, which is a key component to building The Ground’s community. Freedom and diversity and inclusion are beneficial goals to create a successful coworking space.
LIMITATIONS
This case study did not seek to generalize all coworking spaces, and some of the results may be unique to The Ground and its culture. As the study relied on open interviews and surveys, it may have been influenced by subjective interpretations. The study was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and did not include the type of observation originally planned.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
The findings of this study are applicable beyond coworking, as community, collaboration, and creativity are key management goals of any organization. The two main findings relating to coworking goals/values at The Ground, freedom and diversity and inclusion, warrant additional study at coworking spaces. Additionally, the study recommends that community, collaboration, and creativity should be studied further outside of physical space in regards to remote work and digital tools. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9021795
- author
- Franzén, Amanda LU and Mynsberge, Joel LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- MGTN59 20201
- year
- 2020
- type
- H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
- subject
- keywords
- coworking, management, collaboration, community, creativity, physical space, co-location, social interaction, The Ground, diversity, inclusion, freedom
- language
- English
- id
- 9021795
- date added to LUP
- 2020-06-29 14:34:19
- date last changed
- 2020-06-29 14:34:19
@misc{9021795,
abstract = {{PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of coworking space as it relates to meeting the common goals of collaboration, community, and creativity for its members. Through a case study of a coworking space, the study seeks answers to questions as: “How can coworking spaces enhance community, collaboration, and creativity to create a better experience for their members?” and “Are there any common goals or values of the chosen coworking company and its members?” The study will review the concepts of community, collaboration, and creativity, referred to as the three C’s, as well as physical space. A case study narrative describes the background and history of the chosen coworking space for the case study, The Ground, located in Malmö, Sweden.
METHODOLOGY
This study relies on data from interviews, surveys, an observation, photographs, and a floor plan of The Ground’s space. The three C’s serve as the basis for the interview and survey questions. The open interviews and surveys are analyzed using a coding analysis. The observation is presented using a lived visual narrative approach. The spatial data, photographs and the floor plan, are evaluated using a spatial analysis methodology.
FINDINGS
The coworking case study location, The Ground, offers co-location and the space facilitates opportunities for social interactions, which its members value. The space is mostly open and full of life and fosters creativity, and members share ideas and inspiration. Organizations at The Ground reflect the theme of openness, and have open management styles with low hierarchies. Members collaborate within and outside of their organizations, including contractual and non-contractual work. The members have built relationships and co-constructed their community. Members have created a collective identity, referring to themselves as Groundlings. The Ground was built upon increasing diversity and inclusion, and members value this. Freedom to use and personalize The Ground’s space allows for members to better meet their organization’s needs. Additionally, the members value freedom, which is a key component to building The Ground’s community. Freedom and diversity and inclusion are beneficial goals to create a successful coworking space.
LIMITATIONS
This case study did not seek to generalize all coworking spaces, and some of the results may be unique to The Ground and its culture. As the study relied on open interviews and surveys, it may have been influenced by subjective interpretations. The study was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and did not include the type of observation originally planned.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
The findings of this study are applicable beyond coworking, as community, collaboration, and creativity are key management goals of any organization. The two main findings relating to coworking goals/values at The Ground, freedom and diversity and inclusion, warrant additional study at coworking spaces. Additionally, the study recommends that community, collaboration, and creativity should be studied further outside of physical space in regards to remote work and digital tools.}},
author = {{Franzén, Amanda and Mynsberge, Joel}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Coworking: A Case Study at The Ground}},
year = {{2020}},
}