A Study of Co-Working Space Operation Strategy: Focused on Operation Elements Analysis by AHP Method

코워킹스페이스 운영전략 연구: AHP 기법을 통한 운영요소 분석을 중심으로

The purpose of this study is to suggest a successful operating strategy of co-working space. Therefore, the operating elements were identified through a literature research. And then, verified through site investigation and interview of operation managers. We found out that the high level operating elements are 'Co-working management', 'Membership management' and 'Supporting management' And the low level elements of Co-working management are 'Relationship facilitation', 'Networking event & Party' and 'Community & Communication', Membership management's are 'Service diversity & Price plan', 'Promotion & PR' and 'Alliance & Partnership', Supporting management's are 'Space & Interior', 'Facility & Device, Solution' and 'Mentoring & Education'. And the questionnaire was designed and conducted to Co-working space operators through the AHP method. As a result of the collected data analyzing, the highest priority was the operational element 'Community & Communication', and 'space and interior' is next, 'Service diversity & Price plan' is the third. The results were discussed with the relevant experts and it presents the following operating strategies. First, to create an environment suitable to voluntary coworking is the most important element. In particular, good management of 'Community & Communication' should be considered as a high priority operations strategy in a coworking space. Second, interior and space utilization helps in making the environment and atmosphere conducive to coworking. Office devices and facilities such as IT infra, printer, fax, scan, paper...etc are also important elements. But the reason why these necessary items are given a low priority is that these items don't need any special strategy. Third, in order to create a stable profit, 'Service diversity & Price plan' should be the characteristics of each coworking space because it will attract and secure enough customers. This study is valuable, it could be a great guideline for coworking space in an early stage to adopt operating model and strategy

본 연구는 최근 창업공간으로서 코워킹스페이스가 성공적으로 운영될 수 있도록 운영전략을 도출하는데 그 목적이 있다. 따라서 문헌조사를 통해 운영에 필요한 요소들을 도출하였고, 이에 대한 우선순위를 파악하기 위해 AHP 방식으로 설문지를 설계한 후 코워킹스페이스 운영자를 대상으로 설문조사를 실시하였다. 그 결과 가장 높은 순위를 가진 3대 운영요소는 커뮤니티 및 커뮤니케이션, 공간 및 인테리어, 서비스 다양화 및 가격정책으로 확인되었고, 이에 대해 관련 분야 전문가들과 논의하여 코워킹스페이스의 운영전략을 제시하였다. 본 연구는 코워킹스페이스 운영요소 소개 및 우선순위 도출방법 제시를 통해 코워킹스페이스를 도입하고자 하는 공공, 민간분야에서 초기단계에 운영모델, 운영전략으로 활용할 수 있다는 점에서 의미하는 바가 크다고 할 수 있다.