ABSTRACT
This chapter shows how workspace design can be used as an important tool for change management. There is a robust debate in the literature on the effect of workspace design on organizational performance. Prior research has generally posited a direct, linear relationship between specific workspace design and employee satisfaction or firm performance. Increasing privacy leads to higher job satisfaction, while open workspaces increase collaboration and teamwork. This chapter argues that this relationship is modified by context. The chapter develops testable propositions on factors such as culture and the relationship orientation of employees. It focuses on public agencies in India, contributing information about a major country that has received limited attention so far. It contributes to our understanding on how workspace design can influence organizational change management, including corruption that hampers trust and collaboration.
