New and evolving work environments are continuing to challenge traditional assumptions about the places where we work. Recently in this publication the article “Moving Beyond Open Plan Spaces” explored the evolution of the workplace as society shifts its focus from efficiency-based to experience-based solutions that emphasize employee-focused, immersive-work environments.
On the surface, it would seems this transition would be intuitive given the positive impact a workplace change can have on employee productivity, satisfaction, retention and recruitment. Yet this is not always the case. Conventionally designed work environments are steeped in tradition with unwritten rules about workplace hierarchies, practices and expectations. Regardless of how wonderful a transformed environment could be, people have a hard time letting go of what they know.
For example, over the past decade many organizations have adopted—with mixed results—workplace solutions that challenge the traditional notion of one desk for each person. These office design concepts, such as Activity-Based Workplaces (ABW) and Neighborhood-Based Choice Environments (NCE), encourage movement and allow workers to choose the right environment for the task at hand—from spaces for quiet, individual work to gathering spots for collective brainstorming. Many of the same organizations that have implemented these new workplace concepts have also launched change management programs to help staff adapt to their new work environments. So, why isn’t it working in the long term?