Nick Booth: What is the burning platform that makes organizations change?

Is it financial concerns, a desire to emulate the innovative campuses seen at major tech start-ups, or a mandate to create cultural change within the organization? Under pressure to deliver greater efficiency and inspire collaboration within the workplace, organizations are taking a close look at how best to optimize their real estate footprints for the results they seek.

“A lack of ability to tie marketing programs directly to revenue is an indicator that you need transformation.”

Organizations, particularly in the public sector, quite often don’t do anything until they have to. So you have to ask, “What is the burning platform that makes organizations change?” It’s usually financial or budgetary pressure—they’re running out of money, and they need to make a change. Alternatively, in a commercial environment, the motivation could be more about keeping up with the competition and making sure there isn’t a loss of commercial position.

In the UK local government, in addition to providing a corporate workspace where people can be productive, we try to use those assets to generate further benefits for the public sector and for the community at large. So, for example, building new buildings is part of the regeneration program. It helps to lift part of a town that may be on a downward economic slide. The hope is that the economic activity created by bringing people together in one place will create extra jobs in cafés, restaurants, printing suppliers, and all the other supply chain elements involved in supporting a business and a community.

This is an excerpt from 8 Experts on Workplace Transformation. The eBook was generously sponsored by Iron Mountain.