From concept to norm – an explorative study of office design management from an organizational perspective

Abstract

All organizations exist within a physical setting, and act according to the constraints and limitations imposed by it. The way an organization chooses to manage its physical space affects workplace dynamics. Explores how a standard for workspace design has developed over time in the research and development department of a large Swedish industrial corporation. This standard is intended to be an organizational tool for handling issues of office design. Departs from an open systems perspective and examines the problem of designing and managing physical space in relation to organizational levels of complexity and in terms of a wicked problem, as defined by Rittel and Weber. Results indicate that the standard was developed at a high level of complexity in the organization, and was recognized as a solution to a wicked problem. However, as the change developed into a more administrative phase, the ownership of the problem was moved to lower organizational levels, with a reduced complexity as a result. This means that the standard no longer works as intended.

Citation

Gustafsson, C. (2002), "From concept to norm – an explorative study of office design management from an organizational perspective", Facilities, Vol. 20 No. 13/14, pp. 423-431. https://doi.org/10.1108/02632770210454359