Focus on Performance, People and Space
Over recent years, European corporates have lived through recession and, at varying speeds, recovery. They have been through a phase where cost management dominated, followed by another where people issues and growth were at the forefront. Both agendas are still important but the next challenge is more complex: using data and insight to optimise the performance of both space and people.
Anticipating Tomorrow's Normal
This year’s survey results indicate that the dominant themes of the past two years, respectively cost management and employee-led issues have been, or are being, addressed by the most successful corporates. This coincides with a period of rapid change for many companies and has included substantial regulatory changes as well.
Now, world-class organisations are moving onto the next set of challenges, which are more multi-dimensional, cross-discipline and require identification of the right mix of ways to optimize performance of people and portfolios.
Priority areas in 2016 include:- A deeper understanding of the interaction between people and technology
- Implementing workplace strategy across whole portfolios
- Offices as a “hub” for employees, clients and the wider business community
- Managing the balance between central process and local agility
- Flexible working: what works and what doesn’t? Developing tailored solutions that respond to staff preferences and enhance strategic aims
- Finding an optimal focus for cost allocations: the priorities are less obvious than they once were
- The world is awash with information. The focus now is more accurate data in the right quantities to drive performance advantage
About the Survey
The European Occupier Survey, now in its sixth year, polls real estate decision makers at 120 global corporations to understand their objectives and associated challenges across a broad range of issues. The respondents are headquartered primarily in Western Europe or North America spanning multiple sectors.
