Office redesigns show you what your culture really is like

OFFICE redesigns can really be a litmus test of the kind of relationship management has with employees.

There are probably a dozen reasons for a workspace revamp: a brand refresh to attract young blood, a mandate from the global headquarters, or a change to achieve certain aspirational outcomes (cue corporate buzzwords "collaboration" and "innovation").

More often than not, the objective is more pragmatic in nature - a result of an organisational restructuring or the need to accommodate more people without actually adding more space. (When offices take away cubicles in favour of hot-desking or a shared open-plan layout, individual space is greatly minimised, which saves costs in the long run.)

Whatever it is, the decision to commence workplace transformation is usually a directive from management; the staff get no say. But how does the company go about it? The exercise has to be one in which the staff can add their two cents worth, if this is to be implemented successfully.…