Performance-oriented office work environments in Germany – Concept testing in a real life change project

The overall research, presented in multiple parts, discusses success factors as well as potential pitfalls regarding the contents and processes of designing and implementing modern office work environments in Germany. A holistic concept to effectively evaluate workspace change projects has been developed in part 1. This evaluation concept covered two areas: The major dimensions of workspace design including involved actors and performance parameters, and the processes of implementation the change management aspects. The interaction of these areas was also considered.Part 2 of the research, which is presented here, applies, tests and modifies the evaluation approach for workspace change projects suggested in part 1. For that, a comprehensive case study of a German financial services organization is used. The case study spans the time frame from preparing the change, the move into the new office environment, and 14 months thereafter. It uses a mixed methods approach with document research, several series of mostly half structured interviews, weekly web surveys and corresponding project team meetings. A comprehensive final survey covers the contents as well as the change management processes of the workspace project. The results of the evaluation are presented and discussed in a workshop including the project team and user representatives. With the integration of this information, the concept and the evaluation approach are adapted, resulting in a framework that can be used as a guideline to performance-oriented design, implementation, and evaluation of new work environments.