Case Study Overview
Case Study Overview
The world's largest software company experiments with hybrid way before the rest
Organisation: Microsoft Netherlands
Location: Schiphol, the Netherlands
Employees: 1,000+
Key Concepts: A journey the virtual "office"
- Employees were unsatisfied about their work/life balance
- They were finding it hard to leave work at the office
- The company employed mostly knowledge workers
The Challenge
First, Microsoft wanted to use their technology to improve the organisation’s productivity.
Second, the vitality of employees needed to go up. They had given the organisation a score of “unsatisfactory” when it came to promoting a good work/life balance. Employees were always available at home and being pushed by the technology to continue working. The question? How to give employees the scope to organise work themselves, to cope with that responsibility?
The Result
Microsoft and Veldhoen + Company made the change process as organic as possible. Employees now no longer have assigned offices or desks. A big change, but without any resistance. People were already used to it.
Changing leadership styles was the second part of the change process, along with getting the most out of employees as a team. They learned to let go more and to facilitate rather than steer.
The office building acts as a catalyst. The new space acts as a meeting place, space, transparency and connection are key.