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Experiencing smart working: a case study on workplace change management in Italy

Chiara Tagliaro (Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy)
Andrea Ciaramella (Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy)

Journal of Corporate Real Estate

ISSN: 1463-001X

Publication date: 12 September 2016

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to share the insights gained by a recent research and consultancy work performed by the authors accompanying an organization in workplace change management. The inception of the new ways of working may lead a company to rethink the office space toward downsizing, with the main objectives to shrink occupancy costs and enhance workers’ productivity. The shift to a new office building and a smart working model needs to be well managed and verified ex-post. The application of a post-occupancy study can help fine-tune real and perceived quality with the enhancement of both space and people’s performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The experience is presented as a case study. Data have been collected through the triangulation of different methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative. Walk-throughs, observations, questionnaires, interviews and focus groups have been conducted. Interpolation and interpretation of all the information obtained led to a critical synthesis that this paper aims at disclosing.

Findings

Inter-disciplinary collaboration between corporate real estate, facilities management and human resources departments, with employees’ involvement, has been fundamental for gaining useful insights.

Research limitations/implications

It is necessary to extend the sample to obtain information at an epidemiological level.

Originality/value

The research can be considered one of the few Italian contributions to the field of post-occupancy studies. Moreover, it can give new indications about the evolution of workplace features in an Italian context.

Keywords

  • Downsizing
  • Post occupancy evaluation
  • Corporate real estate
  • Smart working
  • Hot-desking
  • Workplace change management

Citation

Tagliaro, C. and Ciaramella, A. (2016), "Experiencing smart working: a case study on workplace change management in Italy", Journal of Corporate Real Estate, Vol. 18 No. 3, pp. 194-208. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRE-10-2015-0034

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Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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