By: Mae Cornes

To achieve perfect harmony in an organization, one must focus less on the broad strokes and more on the finer aspects. One of the few individuals who truly translates this fact into tangible results is Dr. Lorissa MacAllister. The first in her field, MacAllister, has dedicated her career to elevating the productivity, customer engagement, and revenue flow of businesses that consult with her.

MacAllister’s work revolves around the identification of “friction barriers,” which are specific areas within an environment where issues commonly arise. If left unchecked, these friction barriers can disrupt an organization’s overall flow, affecting entire business processes.

Delving Into the Friction

The inception of MacAllister’s rather unique strategy began in a hospital. Left to fend for herself as she assisted patients, MacAllister took to using a cramped supply closet as a space to host conversations. After several changes in locale, the realization hit – the environment itself could have a very tangible impact on the satisfaction of said patients.

This hunch turned into a study before growing into its very own field. “It hit me one day. The spaces we design, they don’t always facilitate our daily activities. Think of the little annoyances that bog you down at work. Eventually, that annoyance piles up. It snowballs,  ending up in burnout,” explains MacAllister.

Drawing on architectural concepts, social science training, and her own personal intuition, MacAllister developed the InFORMED Approach™ — her magnum opus. The idea is to take various data points related to a space, identify root issues, and correct them to achieve measurable results.

Though she originally started in the healthcare sector, MacAllister explains that her concepts can be applied to far more avenues than hospitals and clinics. “Restaurants, hotels, even right at home. We can create healing, supportive environments that nurture us instead of impeding our lives,” she says.

MacAllister further stresses that environments are not static, as one would assume. In her workshops, she teaches the concept of “dynamic” spaces, where the objects and individuals within an area flow in a specific way. “Not everything stays in the same place, but you can guide the direction in which things move by carefully designing a space,” she elaborates.

Application to Businesses

Business owners often can pinpoint that something is amiss in their organization, especially when provided with sufficient performance indicators. However, just as frequently, they cannot articulate the specific issue. 

When applied to a professional environment, MacAllister’s work has been noted for its potential to improve revenue flow, customer engagement, and employee productivity. However, these results are not instantaneous, and indeed, MacAllister sees herself as solely a consultant through her firm Enviah rather than the direct arbiter of such outcomes.

“I provide business leaders with clear, actionable data that is meant to help them make decisions better. We base it off multiple data points within a space, as well as other vital info from within the organization itself,” MacAllister says. “Let’s say you shell out significant amounts of money to refurbish a space, but suddenly productivity drops, and you lose customers. I analyze what’s changed and advise you on what steps to take.”

More than providing actionable insights, MacAllister gives leaders the lexicon needed to communicate the business’s needs. Working closely with these individuals, MacAllister is an advisor and an educator, helping business leaders grasp the complex concepts behind her expertise.

In addition to data analysis, MacAllister also works with flooring plans, operational strategies, and staffing rosters to streamline the entire operation. Every point of information is analyzed carefully and aligned toward the business’s goal as closely as possible.

The Future of Organizational Productivity

As urbanization continues to expand across the globe, more space is being wasted than ever. Businesses purchase ever-larger lots in the hopes of accommodating their growing operations. Staff members bump shoulders, customers fall out of line, and furniture lies in obstruction of walkways. Such issues plague nearly all enterprises, from small restaurants to the largest corporate offices.

In this silent crisis, Dr. Lorissa MacAllister and the few experts who follow in her footsteps provide a reliable solution. Wielding a novel data analysis application, the Space Doctor™ hopes to provide her unique designs to as many operations as possible. 

With the widespread adoption of such designs, one can hope for a world designed for the people who inhabit it— with places meant to inspire and empower, to save time and conserve energy  — so homes and business spaces alike can enhance overall wellness and productivity.

Published by: Khy Talara