Three Participatory Methods to Engage Employees in Workplace Research and Design

Abstract

As hybrid work becomes more common, understanding employees’ experiences of diverse work environments is crucial. This paper presents three empirical studies using participatory methods—autophotography, cultural probes, and game-based workshops—to engage employees in reflecting on their everyday work. Our findings suggest that participatory methods can enhance employees’ awareness of their work environments and provide organizations with actionable insights for creating more supportive and adaptive workplaces. This study shows that actively involving employees in workplace research and design can lead to meaningful changes, and encourages the broader adoption of creative, participatory approaches in organizational studies.