The future of the high-performance workplace is taking shape behind closed doors and kept quiet by nondisclosure agreements.
Across Britain, hedge funds, banks, call centers and consultancies are installing tracking systems to link biosensing wearable devices with analytics tools once the preserve of elite sports.
"There isn't a competitive sports team in the world that doesn't adopt high-end analytics tracking the athletes on the field, off the field, at home, when they're sleeping, when and what they're eating," said Chris Brauer, Director of Innovation at Goldsmiths, University of London. "The workplace is heading toward that model."
The tools help link human behavior and physiological data to business performance. It's a departure from typical wearable technology strategies, which tend to focus on operational efficiency or safety.
The power of the new tools is being evaluated privately, partly to avoid accusations of intrusive behavior, partly because those running the tests believe it gives them a competitive edge.
"Yes, it's already happening, starting off with some of the big hedge funds," said John Coates, a Cambridge neuroscientist and former Goldman Sachs trader, who is actively working with companies to link biological signals to trading success.
His research focuses on understanding the physiological drivers of risk preferences. "It used to be assumed that most things that you learned at business school were pure cognitive activity and if you're not doing well you need better information or psychological training," he said.
However, science is starting to show that some hormones — including naturally produced steroids and testosterone — increase confidence and make us take more risks. Meanwhile stress hormones like cortisol produce the opposite effect.
