What drives collaboration among Filipino freelancers? Assessing the physical and social elements of coworking spaces

• Main Authors: Galvez, Kevin, Murad, Noel Sajid I.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2020
• Subjects: Work environment; Self-employed—Philippines; Cooperation; Interprofessional relations; Industrial and Organizational Psychology; Performance Management
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/10903
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study makes use of the servicescape framework of Balakrishnan et al. (2016) to examine the relationship between the physical and social elements of a coworking space and the intention of customers to use it.Specifically, the study aims to determine if 1) physical elements such as ambiance, space/layout, facility aesthetics, functionality, and cleanliness, and 2) social elements such as interaction among members, the interaction between members and community manager, professional development activities, and coworking culture practices, have a significant influence on Filipino freelancers in Metro Manila in their intention to use a coworking space.The results of the study show that the relationship of each physical element of a coworking space on the intention to use it was statistically significant with P-value 0.00 for ambiance, space/layout, facility aesthetics, and functionality, and P-value 0.06 for cleanliness. Furthermore, the relationship of each social element of a coworking space on the intention to use it was also statistically significant with P-value 0.00 for interaction among members, the interaction between members and community manager, professional development activities, and coworking culture practices. The results provide evidence that for Filipino freelancers, the physical and social elements of a coworking space are important considerations in the intention to use it.Moreover, consistent with the findings of earlier research, the social elements of a coworking space are considered more important than the physical elements, which suggest that more than a physical space to work, freelancers seek a social context where their need for interaction and collaboration is fulfilled, support can be gathered from other coworkers, and activities can help in professional development. The study adds to the existing literature with the context of coworking spaces in the Philippines explored.