Preparations for Aalto University
Morning Coffee for staff and students at TaiK
Aalto University prepared with the whole community involved
All staff is also involved in the preparations of Aalto University. Both personnel and student representatives took part in the theme groups on various subjects and are now equally represented in the Transformation Organisation from the beginning of Autumn 2008. Aalto people meet each other at seminars, training sessions and morning coffee events.
What makes a great working community?
"I have never seen two identical workplace change scenarios" says Pekka Järvinen, an organizational psychologist who has been involved in hundreds of change processes.
At the Aalto University work community event in Dipoli, Järvinen touched on some of the psychological drivers that bring functionality, atmosphere, and motivation to a working community. In Järvinen's opinion, the same rules apply to all communities: industrial firms, metal workshops, universities, and even dry docks.
How to foster team spirit and encourage people to work towards a common goal? The university audience has their own suggestions: a clear division of labor, common rules, equal treatment, a supportive community, good leadership, a shared direction, and open interactions. These interdependent components form the foundation of great working communities. The same elements for community building were also present in Järvinen's presentation.
"The basic mission may easily be forgotten, because people have so many needs" says Järvinen. He emphasizes the importance of continuously keeping a clear focus on what is relevant here, with this project in particular, and on which direction needs to be taken.
Interaction is a working tool but the tools themselves also need to work. Work is becoming increasingly expertise driven, which in turn increases interdependence; work is conducted in teams and networks, but limited resources also compel co-operation. The development of cooperation and interaction skills is essential for success.
- Co-operation is often described as being difficult. Making pledges to oneself is the easiest way to make it work. Even if communities can come to an agreement on something, the real challenge is to actually stick to what has been agreed.
Realizing opportunities
In Järvinen's opinion the easiest and most irresponsible way of handling change is to be cynical and hand it over to others. Järvinen sees only one silver lining to cynicism: a cynical person will never be disappointed, but then, on the other hand, he or she never feels the joy and delight of success either, he comments.
Järvinen also addresses Aalto University’s construction. The recipe for reinvention is succinctness. It is important that everyone is aware that you, that is to say the community, are the primary actors. Through your own actions, you are creating anew and realizing opportunities.
Pekka Järvinen has followed the Aalto University process through his own work and the media coverage of the topic. He believes that the goal of the Aalto movement is to take advantage of all kinds of know-how, which is exactly what is needed in the future. The project has many strengths and plenty of functionality.
"With creativity, there is a general misconception that it is all about waiting for inspiration. However, great writers will, without exception, stress that the creative process entails considerable work. That is what creativity, innovation, and success are all about" he stresses and goes on to hope that through this university integration success stories will emerge that will encourage people to cross borders and advance the creation of new things.