This study surveyed more than 560 members of the HBR audience who are involved in their organization’s strategic workspace decisions. It revealed that today’s organizations are beginning to understand that workspace decisions are not just about square footage and layouts; they are critical determinants of a company’s success. Check out some key findings below and access the full report.
Key findings from the report
Physical workspace, company culture and business outcomes are intertwined
A Harvard Business Review Analytic Services global survey* found that businesses are starting to understand how critical workplace decisions are to business success.
88%
of respondents agree that organizations should consider workspace decisions a strategic priority
Workspace Decisions Critical to Company Culture
97%
agree that workspace decisions impact company culture
98%
agree that the quality of
company culture impacts an organization’s ability to succeed
In fact
42%
of respondents whose organizations have made recent workspace adjustments report that improvement to company culture and engagement was a primary motivation for reassessing their workspace
Strong Culture → Growth
The power of community, connection and proximity is front and center as business leaders are prioritizing opportunities to network or engage in meaningful in-person interactions.
53%
report their organization has added, or is currently adding, more mentoring and professional growth opportunities
52%
have added, or are currently adding, more team bonding outings
77%
agree their organization is interested in having employees attend in-person events to connect with a wider business community.
The workspace is a bit like a combustion engine […] If people are too spread out or the workspace is not right, it kills innovation and collaboration. With the right space, you get that spark…
Eelco Voogd | CEO | Reworc
In-Person is In Style (Again)
Two in five respondents cite adjusting to hybrid and remote work as a top reason for reassessing workspace, while one in three cite encouraging employees to meet/work in person as a motivator to make changes to their space (among those whose organizations have made recent workspace adjustments).
39%
Adjust to hybrid & remote work
34%
Encourage employees to meet/work in person
Physical workspace is reported as beneficial to employees:
86%
agree that “having the option to come into a physical office is beneficial for employees”
90%
agree that “having the option to come into a physical office is beneficial for employees working on collaborative tasks”
Benefits Borne of Workspace Adjustments
The top 5 positive business outcomes realized when organizations made recent workspace adjustments include:
39%
Greater operational flexibility
37%
Improved collaboration
34%
Stronger company culture and engagement
27%
Reduced costs
26%
More employees meeting and working in person
Download the full report
*Data from Harvard Business Review Analytic Services Pulse Survey, sponsored by CIC, “Redefining The Workspace To Strategically Support Corporate Culture, Innovation, and Growth,” published January 24, 2024
