ABSTRACT
The place where everyone looks first for signs of a different style of organizational life is the private sector workplace. It is here that the toughest market pressures, most progressive management thinkers and most adventurous office interiors are most likely to be found. But understanding precisely what is going on here is difficult to achieve. This is because the business gurus with a point to prove have tended to highlight in their case studies the wackiest and most liberated organizations which may not be representative of the private sector as a whole. It is important to distinguish the real leaders in the field, demonstrating principles which others should attempt to emulate, from hype about new designs which might not offer the best lessons.
