Research from “Office Code” explores the impact of cultures upon office interaction and space planning

As multi-national organizations increasingly employ workers from a variety of countries under one roof, they are often faced with culture clashes between employees rooted in their national differences. Upon completion of a three-year exploration study on the relationship between national culture and office space, Steelcase, a global office environments manufacturer, releases the “Office Code". This book is designed to help companies successfully integrate workers who think differently at work.

The research spans six European countries - the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Spain - and shows that national culture and physical office space are not always in harmony, due to pressing economic constraints or the adoption of traditional office configurations. From the impact of meeting start times – for example in Germany it is essential to be on time, whereas in Italy, being late is acceptable or expected – to the message of a closed door signalling a need for privacy or nothing at all, the “Office Code" addresses how the nuances between different cultures under one roof can inform space planners to maximize collaboration and communication.

"Steelcase is asked time and again how local culture manifests within the workplace, which can be particularly problematic after an international office is acquired through a merger or acquisition, but even exists in small companies when conducting business away from home," said Catherine Gall, co-author of the “Office Code" and director of Steelcase Workspace Futures in Europe. "With this book, we compile our years of research to illustrate how organizations can accommodate and support different values, preferences and behaviours to avoid cultural misunderstandings – something that can silently eat away at company resources."

The "Office Code" addresses research established by the Dutch sociologist, Gert Hofstede, who created a model for understanding culture with a study for IBM in the 1970s that identified five dimensions/cultural attributes that impact cultural understanding. It also provides an in-depth analysis of the differences between floor plans, anecdotes, and case studies obtained through interviews and observations of the six countries involved documenting regional differences among the cultures.

"In addition to daily nuances between cultures, we found varied perception and acceptance of mega-trends, such as distributed work (or working off site) between different cultures," said Beatriz Arantes, co-author and social sciences researcher at Steelcase Workspace Futures in Europe. "In some countries, like Scandinavia and the Netherlands, working from home is accepted and carries no stigma, but in France, not being present in the office is frowned upon, stemming from the more hierarchal office structures. These are critical differences that organizations, some of which we showcase in the book, can overcome through proper workspace design strategy and understanding."

In addition to identifying common issues and misperceptions, the "Office Code" also provides examples of best practices of global companies such as Google, Accenture and Steelcase that are successfully integrating contrasting national cultures in the same settings.

Initially published in German in October, 2008, the "Office Code" is now available in English (ISBN 978-3-87422-814-5), and will be available in French in October 2009. A similar study with North American countries is also currently underway.

About Workspace Futures
Workspace Futures is a trans-disciplinary research and foresight group at Steelcase. With expertise in the fields of architecture, business, engineering, ergonomics, industrial design, interior architecture, psychology, marketing and other professions, Workspace Futures seeks to understand the impact of evolving issues in the workplace. In addition to its internal staff, the group is actively engaged in a worldwide research network of leading academic institutions, other industrial sector research groups, and private research institutions.