Coworking

Citizen Space in San Francisco, CA

Coworking is a style of work which involves a shared working environment, sometimes an office, yet independent activity. Unlike in a typical office environment, those coworking are usually not employed by the same organization^[1]. Typically it is attractive to work-at-home professionals, independent contractors, or people who travel frequently who end up working in relative isolation.^[2] Coworking is the social gathering of a group of people, who are still working independently, but who share values,^[3] and who are interested in the synergy that can happen from working with talented people in the same space.^[4][5]

Some coworking spaces ^[6] were developed by nomadic internet entrepreneurs seeking an alternative to working in coffeeshops and cafes, or to isolation in independent or home offices.^[7][8][9] A 2007 survey showed that many employees worry about feeling isolated and losing human interaction if they were to telecommute. Roughly a third of both private and public-sector workers also reported that they didn’t want to stay at home during work.^[10] Coworking offers a solution to the problem of isolation that many freelancers experience while working at home, while at the same time letting them escape the distractions of home.^[11]

Business accelerators, business incubators and executive suites do not seem to fit into the coworking model, because they often miss the social, collaborative, and informal^[10] aspects of the process, with management practices closer to that of a Cooperative, including a focus on community^[12] rather than profit.^[13] Many of the coworking participants are also participants in BarCamp^[14] and other related open source technology activities.^[10][15][16]

Coworking is not only about the physical space but initially and mostly about establishing the Coworking community first. The benefits of Coworking can already be experienced outside of Coworking spaces and it is recommended to start with building a Coworking community first before considering opening a Coworking space.^[17] However, some Coworking Spaces don't build a community, they just get a part of an existing one by combining their opening with an event which attracts their target group.^[18]

A lot of Coworking communities are formed by organizing Casual Coworking events (e.g. Jellies ^[19][20] ) that can take place in people's living room or in public places such as suitable cafes, galleries or multi-functional spaces. During these events Coworkers can experience the benefits of Coworking and get to know each other which lowers the barriers to join a Coworking space later.

Demographics

A 2011 survey found most coworkers are currently in their late twenties to late thirties, with an average age of 34 years. Two-thirds are men, one third are women. Four in five coworkers started their career with an university education. The majority work now in the field of creative industries and new media. And slightly more than half of all coworkers are freelancers.^[1] However, the share of salaried employees increases since larger companies start to experiment with coworking, especially in the U.S., where 35% work as salaried employee.

History

The term "coworking" was coined by Bernie DeKoven in 1999,^{[21][citation needed]} and in 2005 used by Brad Neuberg to describe a physical space which he firstly called '9 to 5 group'^[22].

Neuberg organized a coworking site called the "Hat Factory" in San Francisco, which is a live-work loft that was home to three technology workers, and open to others during the day. Brad was also one of the founders of Citizen Space, the first "Work Only" coworking space, and the space that spawned a global movement. Now, over 400 coworking spaces exist worldwide, spanning 6 continents. ^[23][24]

San Francisco continues to have a large presence in the coworking community, and is home to a growing number of coworking spaces including the pariSoma Innovation Loft, HubSoMa, and Citizen Space.^[25] The San Francisco-based consulting firm Citizen Agency has actively promoted coworking, starting a space called Citizen Space which rents desks but also allows free drop-ins in the public spaces.^[26] Coworking has also spread into many other metropolitan areas, with cities such as Portland, Oregon now offering several thriving coworking venues.^[27]

See also

• Cohousing
• Hot desking
• Nomad worker
• Outsourcing
• Small office/home office
• Telecentre
• Telecommuting
• Collaborative workspace

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Foertsch, Carsten (2011-01-13), The Coworker's Profile http://www.deskmag.com/en/the-coworkers-global-coworking-survey-168
2. ^ Butler, Kiera (2008-01-01), "Works Well With Others", Mother Jones (Mother Jones (magazine)), http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/columns/2008/01/works-well-with-others.html 
3. ^ DeBare, Ilana (2008-02-19), "Shared work spaces a wave of the future", San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco Chronicle), http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/19/MN7CV2JFE.DTL 
4. ^ Miller, Kerry (2007-02-26), "Where the Coffee Shop Meets the Cubicle", Business Week (BusinessWeek), http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/feb2007/sb20070226_761145.htm 
5. ^ Farby, Julie (2007-03-13), "The Hive Hopes To Revolutionize Traditional Office Space By Creating Coworking Space", All Headline News, http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7006731137 
6. ^ 10 of the best co-working spaces in the UK http://www.creativeboom.co.uk/boom-basics/10-of-the-best-co-working-spaces-in-the-uk/
7. ^ Fost, Dan (2007-03-11), "WHERE NEO-NOMADS' IDEAS PERCOLATE: New 'bedouins' transform a laptop, cell phone and coffeehouse into their office", San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco Chronicle), http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/11/MNGKKOCBA645.DTL 
8. ^ Von Bergen, Jane (2007-08-19), "A Step Up From Working In PJ's" (– ^{Scholar search}), Philadelphia Inquirer, http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20070819_A_Step_Up_From_Working_In_PJs.html ^{[dead link]}
9. ^ Williamson, Kate (2007-10-02), "Shared offices growing in S.F., Peninsula", San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco Examiner), http://www.examiner.com/a-968158~Shared_offices_growing_in_S_F___Peninsula.html 
10. ^ ^{a b c} Reed, Brad (2007-10-23), "Co-working: the ultimate in teleworking flexibility", Network World, http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/102307-coworking.html 
11. ^ LeClaire, Jennifer. Collective Turf Coworking Set to Open in Urbana. Office Space News. April 13th, 2009.
12. ^ Fost, Dan (2008-02-20), "Inspiration Strikes Only a Desk Away", New York Times (The New York Times), http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/business/businessspecial2/20ideas.html?ref=businessspecial2 
13. ^ Fost, Dan (2008-02-20), "They’re Working on Their Own, Just Side by Side", New York Times (The New York Times), http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/business/businessspecial2/20cowork.html?_r=1&ex=1361250000&en=dbd589ebb73df147&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&oref=slogin 
14. ^ Clark, Jessica (2007-10-01), "Coworkers of the World, Unite!", American Prospect (The American Prospect), http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=coworkers_of_the_world_unite 
15. ^ Horowitz, Etan (2007-09-27), "Co-working can solve non-traditional office issues", Orlando Sentinel (Orlando Sentinel), http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-cowork2707sep27,0,4868019.story?coll=orl_tab03_layout 
16. ^ Berve, Anette (2008-04-25), "In Search of Colleagues" (– ^{Scholar search}), The Argentimes, http://www.theargentimes.com/downloads/docs/the_argentimes_36.pdf ^{[dead link]}
17. ^ How to start a Coworking Space http://coworking.pbworks.com/Space-Catalyst:-Getting-Started
18. ^ How successful Coworking Spaces create their business http://www.deskmag.com/en/how-a-coworking-space-succeeds
19. ^ Work at Jelly http://www.workatjelly.com
20. ^ TheWorks Coworking and Jellies http://www.theworks.cz/
21. ^ www.coworking.com via the Wayback Machine – earliest archived use of the term coworking
22. ^ [1]
23. ^ [Coworking Directory http://wiki.coworking.com/Directory]
24. ^ "Hub Culture Global Coworking Spaces". http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cameron-sinclair/global-tele-offices-an-an_b_184983.html. |
25. ^ Tom Abate, "Shared work spaces new resource for solo worker", "SF Chronicle", June 4, 2010
26. ^ Dan Fost, "'Coworking,' a cooperative for the modern age", New York Times, Feb. 21, 2008.
27. ^ McEwan, Bob (April 11, 2009). "Co-working: a room not of their own". The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/04/coworking_a_room_not_of_their.html.