The Treasury has moved to a flexible work environment. The project to move the Treasury to new office accommodation began in 2016, with the project team fully established in 2017. Adoption of new and flexible ways of working began before the move to the new office space.
We talked with three of the Treasury workstream leads as they adopted new approaches to working. Project Manager Peter Anderson, Change Manager Michelle Ewing and IT Project Manager Barry Osborne focused on three aspects of the move to flexible working: delivering the new office fit out, finding sensible IT solutions, and making changes to the culture. The team felt that collaboration and alignment across the leads helped the transition to a flexible office environment.
"Four key themes or elements defined the journey and influenced the fit-out design: welcome for all; wharenui as the heart; a connected whole; and our shared workplace." – Peter Anderson, Project Manager
Peter noted there was an early focus on getting the appropriate project management in place for the shift, as well as bringing in IT and people and culture as soon as possible. They needed to make sure that the 600 staff at Treasury were brought along on the journey, with frequent communication, buy-in from senior management, change champions, and by sticking to a collaborative approach.
Another important step was enabling all staff to have the support and information needed to explore the working preferences of teams and individuals.
"We had an engaged and solution focused employee champion group who represented our people from across the organisation. This group made a substantial difference to ensure our people’s experience and input was front of mind during this transition. This group provided valuable input to all three workstreams and facilitated the connection between the project team and our people," – Michelle Ewing, Change Manager
There had already been a gradual shift in the Treasury to smaller, sit-stand desks, and open-plan working. Existing desks were used at the new site, so they were already familiar to staff. New technology solutions were piloted before the move to test that they would work, and to build staff familiarity.
On the day of the move, staff arrived with the laptops they were already familiar with; they knew which neighbourhood their team was anchored to and were familiar with the new ways of working. Leaders greeted people as they arrived, and floor walkers from the three workstreams – and the facilities team – were on hand to assist.
There was early support for changes like flexible IT solutions being available in meeting spaces. Collaborative working approaches also helped transition staff to using unassigned desks, connected meeting rooms and collaborative working spaces.
The Treasury's wharenui – Ngā Mokopuna a Tāne – on the reception level establishes the flow of the office and acts as a central meeting point. It’s seen by staff as a source of pride.
An open stairwell, combined with fewer larger floors, has encouraged collaborative working, with free movement between levels, more flexibility to move around and greater visibility for finding people around the office.
