In the Dutch armed forces clothing sizes are determined using 3D body scans. To evaluate if the predicted size based on the scan analysis matches the best fit, 35 male soldiers fitted a combat jacket and combat pants. It was shown that the predicted jacket size was slightly too large. Therefore, an adjustment was proposed. The predicted and preferred pant size matched rather well. We further investigated discrepancies between predicted and preferred sizes using virtual fitting analysis. Colour maps showing the difference between garment and body circumference illustrated that some soldiers selected a garment size that was obviously too small or too large. In order to minimize the effect of personal preference and maximize standardize ease, we recommend to maintain the current size prediction (with minor corrections for jackets) and use virtual fitting selectively as a control measure.
Due to the rise of knowledge work since the 1980s, high job autonomy and high task variety have become common job characteristics. Knowledge workers increasingly work across multiple locations, using advanced information and communication technologies; a trend that is expected to accelerate in the post-COVID-19 world of work. As these developments fundamentally change the use of office work environments, organizations and workplace professionals have been searching for new ways to facilitate the workforce more effectively and efficiently. In the past two decades, more and more of them seem to have found the ultimate solution in activity-based working (ABW). According to this concept, workers share a variety of non-assigned work settings, enabling them to use different work settings in accordance with their varying tasks. Yet, outcomes of AWB environments generally fall short of expectations. Remarkably, while sharing the same ABW environment, some workers seem to experience fit while others do not.Optimization of perceived fit with ABW environments is important fororganizations, since it is linked to various work outcomes. Currently, this isparticularly relevant in the context of expected post-COVID-19 changes in workpractices. To find clues for optimization of ABW practice, the current PhD research project was designed to examine how workers’ jobs, tasks, behaviors, psychological needs, and demographic characteristics may be related to their perceived fit. Two survey-based studies revealed relevant workers’ attributes, which were further examined in experience-sampling field studies and a virtual reality experiment. From the findings, a clear profile arises of workers who best fit with ABW environments, i.e.: high task variety, job autonomy, external and internal mobility, social interaction, and need for relatedness; low need for privacy; few highcomplexity tasks, many non-individual tasks; appropriately using open and closed work settings; frequently switching between work settings; relatively young age.
This study contributes to the employability skills debate by investigating how students’ self-perceived 21st century skills relate to the self-perceived fit between their higher education curriculum and their future labor market for a sustainable entry to this labor market. Survey data from 4670 fourth-year students over a period of four years were analyzed. Furthermore, out of this group, 83 students were monitored longitudinally over their full educational student careers. Results showed a positive relationship between students’ self-perceived 21st century skills and their self-perceived “education-future labor market fit”. Among more recent cohorts, a significant improvement in their self-perceived 21st century skills was found. Overall, this study indicated that in order to deliver “employable” graduates, students need to be thoroughly trained in 21st century skills, and their development should be retained and expanded. This is one of the few studies that uses a vast amount of both cross-sectional and longitudinal data on skills and labor market perspectives among new graduates.
