Catherwood LibraryILR School

Franklin Becker

Most Fortune 500 companies still struggle with workplace planning and design issues. Millions of dollars are invested each year by companies with the expectation that new buildings and major renovations will help transform their culture, spark innovation, and herald new work patterns that strengthen performance while reducing costs. But, as Franklin Becker points out, popular trends do not always make good sense. Offices at Work addresses the fundamental design issues that organizational leaders confront such as: How do we create a low-cost flexible environment that motivates employees and stimulates learning? Is it worth our spending the time, money, and effort to consolidate our disparate buildings into a new corporate campus? How else can we address status concerns besides giving people offices? Using real world examples presented in a friendly and accessible style, Becker provides a broad range of insights and practical explanations for why different solutions work and make sense. He offers guidance to managers faced with the task of balancing choice and diversity with standardization and uniformity. Becker also discusses the relative benefits of an open versus closed office plan and shares the best ways to help employees adjust to a new workplace environment. [from dust jacket]