Few people appreciate the importance of office space in improving
productivity. But in a time of rapid organisational and technological change,
HR’s potential to influence workspace design gives it a great opportunity to
participate in business strategy.
Frank Duffy, co-founder of international design consultancy DEGW, said HR
had the chance to work with IT, finance and corporate real estate to raise
productivity through bricks and mortar.
"The office says more about how you feel about your employees than
anything else. This offers HR access to corporate strategy because it would
have to do it in corporation with others, specifically IT," Duffy said.
To make effective changes to office space, HR must communicate across
departments to begin measuring efficiency, effectiveness and expression – the
messages you wish to convey to through your office, he said.
