Summertown Interiors

Delegation is one of the key performance management skills requiring a planned approach which will ultimately achieve the desired result whilst at the same time providing a platform to motivate and develop your work colleagues.

It was recently brought to my attention that companies in Dubai are often unaware of the time scale involved in the interior fit-out of offices, and are in essence, looking for the work to be completed, not today but yesterday.

In order to avoid this situation, it is essential for companies looking to move/re-design their office to be aware of the realistic time scales involved, once that all important call is made.

The timescale involved from an enquiry (contacting the interior fit-out contractor) to start up on site is approximately 8 weeks. These 8 weeks include gathering information for the project brief, site survey, space planning, concept and presentation, preparation of BOQ (Bill of Quantity), preparation of construction and MEP drawings, and approval from the authorities. A further 8-12 weeks should then be added until completion date of the project which includes the lead time for materials and furniture. Therefore, the total timescale from an enquiry until completion date is approximately 20 weeks (5 months).

These timescales are averages of the time involved and are subject to change, however as a general guide, any company who has the intention to move/re-design their office should ensure that they have allowed sufficient time for the process and integrate it into their plans accordingly.

How do we grow, how do we attain superior performance, and how can we go from good to excellent? What makes truly exceptional people and companies and what can we do to make a difference?

Ask yourself; what do you believe in, what is important to you and what are those values on which you would never compromise. The idea is not to create or set core values but to look deep within, by looking inside your organization, your department, or yourself and discover the core values that are already there. Identify what you stand for. Once you have identified your core values you must protect those core values. Anything that does not comply with those core values must be ejected like a virus as if it were a disease. In everything you do you need to remind yourself of the crucial distinction between core and noncore, between what should never change and what should be open for change, between what is truly important and what is not. In order to operate at our best when doing business or dealing with others we should never abandon our core values. This may at times be very difficult and almost seem impossible. It may make us move more slowly but we should only grow as fast as we can find people who will uphold our standards and deal with challenges in such a way that we never abandon our principles. Never compromise on your standards for the sake of expediency, opportunity, or financial gain.

Secondly, ask yourself; what is your organization’s, department’s, or your personal core purpose, your fundamental reason for being? Please do not confuse it with goals and strategies or with products and services offered by the organization or your self. Purpose gets at the deeper reason for a company’s or your existence beyond just trying to make money. Money is important for an organization’s and your own existence but it is not the reason for our being. Examples of purpose are; a psychologist’s purpose could be to help mentally challenged people reach their full potential or for Walt Disney it simply is to make people happy. Another example of purpose may be the pursuit of excellence. We do not want to create or set our purpose, we need to find it by looking inside, it must already be there somewhere at the gut level. Why is purpose so important? A purpose can never be fully realized as in the pursuit of excellence there is no finish line, as quoted by Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai. When focusing on a purpose there will be continuous change and improvement. When implemented properly it can guide and inspire yourself and an organization in the short, medium, and long term. “What is your purpose” may be difficult to define, however, it requires a “simple” answer in one or two sentences.

And last but not least there must be an envisioned future, a big audacious goal to achieve. You must commit to a risky and challenging goal in order to stimulate progress.

Evidence from research has shown that those who make a lasting contribution and give meaning to their life are more happy and make more money over the long run.

If you are a CEO, manager, or entrepreneur and wish to read more on the subject of core ideology I would recommend the bestselling author Jim Collins.

Imagine that a dry wall partition is carefully erected from the floor slab to the ceiling. This dry wall partition has an isolated stud frame which has been filled with acoustical insulation and finished with multiple of layers of dry wall. During construction work an electrician/plumber uses a claw hammer to run a conduit/sprinkler pipe. You then notice that there are gaps and that the dry wall partition no longer fits properly so you issue an instruction to fill all the gaps with insulation.

At this stage it should be noted that insulation does provide sound absorption but does not provide a barrier to sound transmission through and around the wall. Although a ¾ inch gap along the top of a 10 foot wall represents only 1 square foot of an opening, filling it with insulation instead of sealing the gap can limit the walls overall performance by more than 10dB.

The most important aspect of facility design and construction is balance. There is no point installing a good quality door in a poor quality interior wall or vice versa as you will not achieve the required results.

It is crucial to note that in order to optimise acoustical performance, how the materials are put together is often more important than what materials are selected as when sound isolation requirements of a room increase, the effect of an acoustical weak link becomes more and more devastating as each of the components must meet the required performance or they will fail collectively.

At Summertown International we are dedicated to providing our clients with good quality materials thus reducing sound transmission and ensuring customer satisfaction.

We’ve noticed that our employees’ extensive commuting time is becoming more and more frustrating, therefore we’ve (Summertown Interiors) recently introduced several opportunities to reduce commuting time. For example, the introduction of flexible business hours; which gives employees the possibility to start early and finish work before the traffic jam begins. Or work one day 8 hours and the next day 10 hours, which also give employees the possibility to avoid traffic jams on certain days and reach home at a decent hour. Or carpooling in a Summertown car to avoid public transport which take much longer.

Does anybody have other suggestions how to reduce commuting time? Should we only hire new employees living nearby the office? Which is a little difficult since we’re based in Jebel Ali Free Zone!! Should we oblige new employees to move nearby our office location? Should we employ staff who only have their own cars? Should we move our office? Of-course some of these ideas are out the question as they are completely impractical, however it gives a platform where we can start looking for real options to save time and have happier employees.

I was reading an article on the CNN website dated 15 September 2008, about the 3 biggest mistakes business travelers make. It was so nice to see that finally people are realizing something, which I’ve been noticing for some time now.

This article is talking about the ‘corporate travel managers’: which most big well known companies work with. Business travelers should not believe them. I used to be a corporate travel manager for Shell in The Hague and I can totally agree with him. There are rules to be followed in the travel world, for companies to stay profitable.

This article also informs us about business travelers who like to complain, the so-called frequent criers and that you shouldn’t believe in the frequent fly programs most airlines have.Of course it is up to you whether to believe them or not!

The biggest mistake airports DON’T DO is hot-desking for these frequent criers. We are already familiar with the lounges, the break out areas and the wireless – Internet access along with an endless list of little perks that aren’t really used by the majority of the travelers anyway.

But what about an idea that isn’t only green but also a great benefit for the actual individual? An ergonomically, environmental friendly fitted out business centre for these very tired and busy businessman and women??

Dubai is so modern and everything is so well thought out that I believe the new Dubai airport should provide this facility and become the first in the world to introduce this fantastic concept.Dubai has been the leader in many great ideas so I hope that this one will also follow in the near future!!

Check out the link: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/business.travel/09/15/business.travel.mistakes/index.html

As we come to the final months of 2008, the outlook for the economy has become more uncertain. The debate among economists has changed from one of whether the economy will weaken, to one of how much it will weaken as we move toward the end of the year.

The commercial interior design sector is one area which may be impacted - it is perceived to some extent as a luxury-led industry –although everyone presumably needs a desk, chair, and the other basics of the office environment.

Market chatter has revealed that some interior designers are concerned about design being compromised in this financially tight context but I beg to differ!

Cost of green materials

Awareness of appropriate design and specification decisions has been steadily growing over these last few years. In many cases, this is driven by suppliers looking for commercial advantage in an increasingly green-aware society.

The current economic situation may make some of these more exclusive materials more accessible, as the market becomes more competitive, so this could possibly be a plus for those wanted to use such materials.

Demand for durable material

Secondly there is the issue of the increased demand for durable products in commercial interiors. While the economy is in its current state, people don’t want to repeatedly invest in furniture, so increasingly we are finding people opting for materials that they can rely upon for a longer period of time.

Space limitations

I think in this market we will see people opting for smaller offices, which is not always a negative for the commercial interior design sector. In some instances you can find that people will be more selective about the pieces that they buy. For more info, read our thoughts about space limitations in a previous blog.

Thinking outside the Box

This financially challenging situation might be the catalyst that we need to improve and evolve the profession. For far too often, we’ve seen big budget projects produce less than stellar commercial interior design. One could look at this opportunity as a way to separate the designers from the geniuses!

I would like to ask people who have a passion for Joinery to read my experience and share with me your thoughts. I have visited the IWF Woodshow exhibition 2008 in Atlanta. To be honest with you. For me it was an eye-opener. I am saying this because I have been in the industry for quit some time (15years) but I never had the opportunity to visit an overseas exhibition of this size so well organized.
 
It was the perfect exhibition for Summertown and myself as we are manufacturing custom made furniture based on clients detailed requirements even though they sound sometimes impossible. We do believe after receiving so many positive customer feedbacks from client over the years that Summertown is the one that is able to manufacture what the customer is having in mind. These "crazy" requirements we enjoy and call challenges!
 
The show was as I mentioned tailor suit for us as the market I believe in The States is not only focused on mass production as most of you people might think. It is also a good market for smaller companies managed by families or friends who are having a small workshop in the garage or basement. Summertown is having an 100,000 square feet factory which you cannot call a garage at all. By saying this I mean we are a modern Joinery factory in its total by having basically workshops on the floor responsible for the drawings which are assigned to each different team of carpenters. Each team is having its lead carpenter overlooked by the Joinery Supervisors.
 
I have made good contact with lots of interesting Joinery people who are in the business of manufacturing more than 30 years. Summertown purchased a number of tools and jigs in the exhibition which will do the job accurate and fast. I would like to mention one interesting website www.cutncrown.com. Please do visit this website and watch the video. It tells you about what is a spring angle and how to fix a crown molding. It is the number one system in the world for fixing crown molding. We are working with the system are are enjoying it.
 
We are looking forward to your response.
Hugo Bish

When designing a corporate space, many considerations come into play. There are the usual issues of lighting, furniture style and comfort, open-plan layouts versus enclosed private offices, bright versus subdued color schemes, and how specific spaces need to be used to meet specific business roles and aims.

But the bottom-line objective to any office design is to ultimately create an interior conducive to a productive and inviting work environment, and one which is tailored to the nature of the work climate.

With that in mind, corporate design oftentimes must transcend these fundamental considerations, and must function in harmony with specific cultural expectations. In the Middle East, design considerations can be cultural as well as environmental. Let's take a look:

Modesty panels

These panels are common fixtures in offices around the world but are most particularly incorporated in Middle East office design. For those unfamiliar with their function, modesty panels are essentially a thin board of wood or metal attached to the front of a desk, which shields the legs from view. These panels can be incorporated onto individual desks or boardroom tables as a means to ensure exactly what the name implies: Modesty.

Prayer rooms

For many corporations in the region prayer rooms are an important design consideration, enabling employees to practice their faith onsite while working. Typically situated in a quieter part of an office, prayer rooms are simple in their design, with little or no embellishments other than wall to wall carpeting and a compass directing worshippers towards the Holy city of Mecca. As music is not appropriate within a prayer room, any office sound system must ensure background music is not filtered through.

Washrooms

In addition to prayer room considerations in many Middle Eastern offices, washrooms are also designed to accommodate ablution, and may have separate ante-rooms to ensure more privacy within the restroom itself. Company Chairmen, CEOs and directors in the Middle East often request separate washroom areas incorporated in the design of their own private office.

Artwork

The Middle East is witnessing an intense interest in corporate art collecting, which is impacting commercial design around the region. Corporations adhering to more conservative viewpoints may be more inclined to display contemporary, modern artwork or landscape portraits rather than art of the human form.

Heat and light

The climate is a fundamental consideration in any commercial design project in the region. Intense sunlight, humidity, and the dustiness of the Gulf must be accounted for in terms of window coverings, air conditioning, access to the outdoors, and availability of covered parking for staff.

Last word

Commercial design is a malleable profession that can easily be tweaked and altered to fit into endless cultural provisions. Custom-creating a corporate space is no different to a home office, or residence in this instance. As long as your specific cultural and environmental needs are identified, then the design solution can be uncovered and interpreted in a modern and elegant form.

One of the best things about working with companies to design their commercial office space is their enthusiasm in creating a new professional environment. Perhaps it is this enthusiasm that also causes companies to forget what are often fundamental issues impacting how their new working space will function.

In the spirit of learning from previous experience, outlined here - in no particular order - are some of the top six issues that companies in the Middle East may overlook when designing their office layouts.

Overlooked issue one

Expansion needs for future growth. The Middle East incorporates some of the world's fastest-growing economies, yet companies often only plan to outfit offices for their current employee base. When designing a new space, management needs a clear picture on how many people are likely to be using it in the next six months to two years, based on the company's growth strategy. Otherwise, previously pristine offices can be compromised by new desks and other necessary expansion elements added haphazardly.

Overlooked issue two

Storage optimization. Many companies don't realize or account for exactly what needs to be stored in their offices, from marketing materials to sales collateral to employee belongings. In each new office layout, careful thought should be given to an appropriate level of storage space that can be easily accessed by staff who require it. And although storage space is not always necessarily overlooked, it often takes a back seat to work place aesthetics, which eventually results in untidy offices, cluttered desks, and a poor work environment.

Overlooked issue three

Communications equipment and flow. In today's technology-centric world, companies need to consider how to manage space for their IT equipment, including appropriate cooling and security if required. But communications needs are also more basic in office design, and need to encompass which teams work most closely together, whether the company needs separate meeting space such as multiple conference rooms and how large these should be, and even considerations such as privacy rooms for more sensitive phone calls to be made in open-plan offices.

Overlooked issue four

Traffic flow. Companies designing their office space should think about how both staff and visitors will make their way through the work space - including the ideal locations for reception desks, restrooms, kitchens, conference space, and fire exits should an emergency occur. Outlining smooth traffic flow helps ensure that colleagues can work more efficiently and effectively together. Remember, it is not about how many people can be fitted into an office space but more about the effective use of office space and the optimization of human resources, employee well-being and output.

Overlooked issue five

Acoustics and sound masking. Noise costs businesses money. Research suggests that office workers can lose up to two hours a working day through broken concentration. The worst offenders are vocal colleagues, mobile phone ring tones, and noise generated by arriving emails on computers. Summertown clients who have advocated open-plan offices or ones with trendy touches such as cement floors have often not considered the auditory ramifications of these choices. When looking at new office space, think about how sound carries in the office, and the effect that a team of excitable sales people all working the phones together may have on the rest of the company, for example. Sound masking technology and a well-considered design plan can alleviate acoustic issues from the very beginning.

Overlooked issue six

Price versus quality. Locally operating organizations often overlook the consequences of going with the cheapest option not necessarily the best. International organizations are installing more and more flexible work sites, each of which are used by more than one person. Desk sharing increases the occupancy of desks. Apart from wishing to promote flexible work styles, customers can also achieve cuts in operating costs. This involves the need to make intelligent use of office space and furnishing solutions. Intelligent solutions combined with a long working life lower the total cost of ownership even if the initial investment may be slightly higher. Too often is the price-only-approach the motivating factor in the decision-making process

Last word

In our years of experience in designing offices for some of the Middle East's most prominent businesses and multinational brands, the Summertown Interiors team have seen some fantastic client ideas, but we've also had narrow escapes in catching these overlooked issues and others before they became sources of contention. Before you invest in fitting out your new office space, give some measured thought to these considerations to ensure that it meets your current and future business needs.