Centre profile
Established in 2014, Singapore Polytechnic’s User Experience Centre (UXC) works with industry clients to transform workspaces, digital experiences, and services, leveraging the expertise of staff and students to deliver impactful solutions.
The centre leverages humanity-centred innovation and design thinking methodology to problem-solving so clients feel empowered to develop creative and meaningful strategies that align with their organisation’s vision. UXC’s team coaches employees to generate ideas that foster inclusivity, enabling colleagues to build stronger relationships and actively participate in company initiatives.
Problem statement
Workplaces often struggle to break free from traditional mindsets and processes that prioritise efficiency over experimentation. Management may resist change, insist on maintaining hierarchical structures, and fear failure. This focus on short-term results discourages employees from thinking creatively, collaborating, and taking risks that could benefit the company’s growth. A 2022 global culture research report by the Society for Human Resource Management found that 76% of workers in Singapore felt safe voicing their opinion on work-related issues – the second-lowest among workers in 12 countries surveyed.
As a result, organisations miss out on opportunities that could help them thrive amid emerging trends, such as artificial intelligence and automation. Workers may also feel demotivated and disengaged, as they do not feel their ideas are valued. Only 13% of employees in Singapore feel engaged, the last among nine Southeast Asian countries researched, Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2024 Report wrote.
Staff from the UXC team Teoh Swee Bing (left), Anthea Choo (middle), and Nicholas Loke (right) discuss their work.
Impact Achieved
To help their business grow, companies should cultivate a culture where employees can express their ideas without fear of judgement, said Tang Soo Yin, UXC’s Director. She cited examples from Google and 3M, which allow workers to set aside time for personal projects alongside regular brainstorming sessions and design sprints. High-growth brands – companies that see annual revenue growth of 10% or more – are more likely than peers to have the mindset and processes that allow creativity to flourish, a Deloitte survey of over 1,000 executives found.
Between April and November 2023, Mitsubishi Chemical Methacrylates worked with UXC to learn how they can promote a more trusting and collaborative work culture across various departments. Twelve employees from different areas participated in a four-day workshop followed by a few days of coaching to develop strategies and programmes tailored to their company for generating and maintaining enthusiasm for collaboration, making it a sustainable part of daily operations.
The team proposed several ideas, including establishing a regular schedule of multi-team building activities, revamping office layouts, launching an online platform to encourage spontaneous interactions, and creating safe spaces where colleagues can exchange ideas that drive change and innovation.
After the course, UXC followed up with Mitsubishi Chemical Methacrylates to assess whether they had implemented the ideas developed during the programme. The company adopted several of these ideas, including introducing employee engagement initiatives and creating shared digital and physical spaces to enhance interaction and foster stronger relationships, said UXC’s Assistant Director Teoh Swee Bing.
“These efforts have been instrumental in creating a foundation for a culture of improved communication and collaboration, which are essential for driving innovation within the organization,” Teoh said.
“UXC showed us how we can use the design thinking process with a humanity centred innovation approach to solve problems creatively in our day-to-day work life,” said Audrey Cheong, Mitsubishi Chemical Methacrylates’ Commercial & Supply Chain Manager.
Similar to Mitsubishi Chemical Methacrylates, organisations that have collaborated with UXC have experienced transformative changes in their perspectives and workspaces, sparking fresh ideas, a deeper understanding of client needs, and a stronger sense of camaraderie among team members.