Akash Mohan
Bhaskarjyoti Das
Tata Research Development Design Center | Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. India
Abstract
In this paper, we intend to understand the complexities in design for well-being during a crisis in an organizational context. We look to understand the various perspectives of well-being holistically and explore the tools and processes required for the same from a systemic design perspective. We believe that this understanding can help us build robust product-service systems for employee well-being as well as take care of the different concerns of sustainability and resilience in the organization. Thus, facilitating design thinkers and designers to approach cultivating holistic employee well-being in their organizations.
The organizations of today function in complex scenarios of organizational plurality that involves diverse cultures, socio-political problems, as well as health and environmental concerns. The internal organizational product-service-systems not only intends to effectively empower and engage its employees but cater to their overall well-being to help them to perform better. However, these product-service-systems also desire sustainability and resilience to be viable for longer periods of time and adapt to disrupting scenarios like the current Covid-19 pandemic. Being well is a positive state and is desired by human beings both as individuals and as a group. However, during times of crisis, like the current Covid-19 pandemic, existing structures, both social and organizational, are shaken and their resilience is tested. With remote working seen as the future of workplaces, the aspects of holistic employee well-being have extended outward of the organizational boundaries. Before we start designing product-service-systems for enabling well-being at organizations, we first need to understand the change in aspects of employee well-being, and secondly, how best can it be inquired and analyzed to facilitate designers and design thinkers to approach design of products- service-systems.
