Change Management in Office Design

Change management refers to the activities and measures used to implement, guide, and support comprehensive changes within an organization. These may include new strategies, structures, systems, processes, or behaviors that need to be introduced. The goal is to ensure a smooth change process and a successful outcome.

At coneon, office design refers to the holistic planning and structuring of a work environment—including office spaces, meeting rooms, lounges, cafeterias, kitchens, hallways, and archive areas—with the goal of supporting employees in their tasks in the best possible way. This, in turn, increases satisfaction and productivity. The process begins with the allocation of departments on the floor plan, continues with material and furniture planning, and extends all the way to interior construction and the final office fit-out.

When it comes to office design, change management plays a crucial role. Whether it involves an office relocation, new office furnishings, or a complete interior renovation, a change process is always involved—one that often poses challenges for both managers and employees. People tend to react critically to change at first. Comments such as “But this is how I’ve always done it” or “I won’t be able to get used to that” are heard frequently. At the same time, everyone wants improvement and has suggestions for change.

In any office redesign process, employees need to be guided and included from the very beginning to ensure the desired enthusiasm and long-term success. Simply aligning a concept with management and pushing it through will rarely work. How coneon implements change management in companies—and how the “depression phase” (see below) can be shortened—is explained in this article.

Many people are afraid of the future. At coneon, we view the ongoing changes in the working world not as a threat but as an opportunity to move forward. Topics such as digitalization, globalization, new technologies, and increased mobility have a direct impact on how we work and reshape the competencies required of employees.

coneon deals daily with the question of how a modern work environment can meet these new requirements and develops solutions for a wide variety of organizations. As experts in office design, we aim to take away your fear of change and guide you step by step through the entire transition process.

Change is something positive, but it also involves letting go of something. For many people, giving up an old habit and taking on a new one is difficult. Why is that? Often, people resist change because they focus too much on what they might lose instead of what they stand to gain. coneon encourages you to focus on the goal. Through our office design guidance, we help you minimize the “depression phase” of the change curve—as illustrated in the model below—and navigate the transition smoothly.

Who hasn’t experienced this? Management introduces a new idea or a new project workflow – and the outcome is predictable: 10% think it’s great, 50% are moderately enthusiastic, and 40% don’t like the idea at all. Every person reacts differently to change and everyone has an opinion about it.

Researchers have identified a typical behavioral pattern that can be applied to almost any change process. The graphic below illustrates how productivity develops over time. Time is the first key factor to consider in this process. The following behavioral stages can typically be observed:

• Denial (“I don’t need this,” “It won’t be implemented anyway”)
• Anger (“Now I have even more work,” “I don’t want this”)
• Bargaining (“If I do this, I want more pay or fewer tasks”)
• Depression (“None of this makes sense,” “I’m fed up”)
• Exploration (“Actually, this is quite useful,” “With some time, I might get used to it”)
• Acceptance (“This new concept was a good idea,” “It works better than I thought”)

Once acceptance sets in, enthusiasm and productivity begin to rise.

Whether you choose our THINK services (workplace analysis), DESIGN services (office planning), BUILD services (interior construction), or simply order office furniture from us – our change management strategy extends across our entire service portfolio. Coneon guides you and your employees through every step of the transformation of your working environment.

We start with keynote sessions, town hall meetings, workshops, interviews, and surveys to understand your company in depth and to develop a tailored spatial concept for you. Coneon creates an inspiring vision designed to ease the concerns of employees and decision-makers alike. Throughout the construction and implementation phase, we remain in continuous communication with you. Even after the final handover, we follow up and take your employees’ feedback seriously.

1. As an external coach, coneon works closely with both employees and decision-makers, ensuring a comprehensive and unbiased perspective.
2. Starting with a detailed analysis and concluding with post-project support, coneon implements changes in a sustainable and long-lasting way.
3. coneon understands typical human reactions during change processes, can assess concerns, and helps reduce employees’ fears.
4. As a general contractor, coneon ensures transparent communication between all stakeholder groups involved.
5. coneon’s experienced team—consisting of project managers, designers, and engineers—supports you from A to Z on your journey toward a modern work environment.

Some of our clients—such as NGK Spark Plug, Century Link, Walter Pilot, and many others—have already benefited from our support starting in the analysis and planning phase. Read more about our projects.