The Morphology of the Workplace for Rapidly Growing Organizations

When organizations rapidly expand, one critical aspect that often needs to be reevaluated is their workplace. This article presents a three-stage model illustrating the evolution of office spaces as organizations grow and how they can proactively adapt to these changes.

 Stage 1 – Growth Foundation 

The Growth Foundation stage begins a high-growth journey, particularly relevant for startups and tech companies experiencing exponential growth. 

At this stage, the bold choice is to secure office space more extensive than current needs, allowing room for anticipated expansion. 

To do so, organizations should outline their projected growth, highlighting teams expected to expand rapidly. This approach enables the designer to develop a workplace that can adapt to changing needs.

Additionally, the workplace at this stage could be used to provide a financial opportunity. Companies may consider renting out the extra space in the short term, generating revenue while waiting for their team to expand. 

The Growth Foundation stage is a foundational step toward a growth-oriented workspace strategy.

Stage Two – Space Optimization

Space Optimization represents the pivotal stage in a high-growth organization’s lifecycle where the projected headcount is being approached, and the office space begins to fill up on certain days of the week.

At this stage, re-engaging the designer becomes crucial. A rigorous examination of the existing office layout, utilization, and emerging bottlenecks is necessary to devise a strategic plan to redesign the workplace. The designer’s role here is to reevaluate and reimagine the space under the changing dynamics. 

No doubt, data collection plays a significant role in this process. The workplace manager should gather occupancy data and track traffic patterns across different spaces. This empirical data can provide invaluable insights into space utilization, informing the necessary design modifications and decisions.

This phase may involve strategic interventions such as altering the current layout by adding or removing certain elements, thereby reviving the office space. 

The strategic interventions taken at the Space Optimization stage breathe new life into the workplace and sustain the growth momentum for the foreseeable future.

Stage Three – Flagship Office

The Flagship Office signifies the point where the office space reaches saturation. As the workforce continues to grow, the office’s role evolves significantly. Instead of simply being a workplace, the office transforms into a flagship of the company’s culture and values.

During this phase, the office physically manifests the organization’s ethos. It evolves into a space where new hires can immerse themselves into the company’s culture, experience the community, and absorb its values personally.

This change also signals a shift in human resources strategy. The HR department must begin planning for a hybrid work model, balancing between in-office and remote work. This flexible approach caters to a larger workforce while maintaining a solid connection to the company culture ultimately, the function of the workplace transitions from a primary work location to a cultural hub. 

In the Flagship Office stage, the workplace plays a critical role in organizational growth and preserving and propagating its unique culture.

In conclusion, thinking of the workplace through the lens of these stages provides a roadmap for high-growth organizations to adapt their office spaces to evolving needs. From securing adequate space, revising design strategies to transitioning towards a hybrid work model, these stages guide the transformation of workspaces in line with organizational growth, promoting a conducive, flexible, and culturally vibrant working environment.