The task of assigning workspaces can be very emotionally charged. By default, workspaces will often be aligned with the formal organisation chart, making the assumption that the formal structure also reflects the preferred work patterns. This assumption is becoming highly questionable as workplaces become increasingly interdependent. Workspace allocation can become a highly emotive issue. It’s not just about the corner offices. It can be impossible to meet everyone’s expectations, yet its important that organisations maximise the opportunity that co-location offers. Despite the facility offered by modern communications technology, physical co-location is still by far the best means for sharing knowledge and maximising productivity. So how can we converge the duplicity of personal co-working preferences, natural team collaboration patterns with physical workplace design, to achieve maximum possible productivity?

1. Who would you like
to sit near?
Laurence Lock Lee
July 2014
www.optimice.com.au Commercial in Confidence 1

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3. www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence 3

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5. Workspace Reflects Work Culture
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6. Workspace Reflects Work Culture
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7. The science of proximity and communications
“The more often we see someone face-to-face,
the more likely it is that we will
telephone the person or communicate in
some other medium."
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10. Its all about the ability to “Choose”
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Who you work with
When you work
Where you work
Why you work
Daniel Pink “Drive: What
Motivates us”

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A Little Exercise

12. Explorer Engager
Ideator Exploiter
Cohesion
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Diversity
Innovation Archetypes

13. Now Back to the Question
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North Bank
Where staff are currently
located
Total number of people
included on map
Placement in new
building
Circles are Business
Units
Size = # staff
Line = Collaboration

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15. Parting Message…
“Its not where you sit;
but who you sit with that matters!”
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