Organisational Space And
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Organisational Space and Multi-locational Workers: A case study of the Forum Building at the University of Exeter Submitted by Polina Nikolaou to the University of Exeter as a thesis for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management Studies In April 2015 I certify that all material in this thesis which is not my own work has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. Signature: ………………………………………………………….. This thesis is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. Page 1 of 293 Abstract As businesses are becoming increasingly aware of their ever changing market environments; constraints and opportunities arise which result in organisations evolving and re-structuring accordingly. Therefore, their organisational spaces are evolving to follow suit. A theoretical shift has occurred in OT, from considerations of space as an ‘organisation’ to ‘organising’ viewing space as processual which involves an understanding of space as something which is continually produced and re-produced through social relations (Dale & Burrell, 2008). While in the past organisational space often referred to the interior space of an organisation, consideration of recent literature demonstrates that organisational space is not limited to the internal, but also includes the external space of an organisational building. The key points of the literature review are centred on the users in the space, as well as the materialisation of power through spatial design and space as an experience. A mixed-method approach of observation, interviews and a questionnaire are used to understand the Forum user; defined here as a form of multi-locational worker. The case study approach on the Forum Building at the University of Exeter is used to position a typology of University open workspaces in the wider context of open, public and communal [OPC] workspaces, with the intention of generating research directions that extend current theory. Key results of this study are the ‘unspoken reciprocity’ among Forum users and the importance of ‘visuality’; the act of seeing while being seen, in motivating individuals. Furthermore, the spatial elements of ‘flexible accessibility’, ‘flexible workspaces’ and active atmosphere are major contributors to making the Forum space an attractive workspace in the current University trend of ‘interdisciplinary spaces’ (Coulson et al., 2014; Temple, 2014). This thesis makes both a theoretical and methodological contribution to the organisational studies literature through the holistic case study approach to viewing organisational spaces. Through a socio-spatial perspective of multi-locational users’ perceptions of their changing everyday working environment, the research provides significant insight into the conceptualisation, design, operations and management of such spaces. Key Words: Organisational Space, interdisciplinary spaces, mixed methods, socio- spatial analysis, The Forum Page 2 of 293 Acknowledgements First and foremost, I express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor Professor Gareth Shaw who gave me the opportunity to progress this research project. I am thankful for his inspiration, encouragement and constructive feedback in aiding me through this journey. Furthermore, I am thankful in the time invested by Dr Stewart Barr and Professor Adele Ladkin in examining my thesis. Their feedback and suggestions enhanced this thesis and encouraged me to build on this work further. I am endlessly grateful to my all my family for their support and encouragement throughout my PhD journey. To Polys and Selia Nikolaou the love, prayers and good wishes you were always giving me helped guide and advance me through this process. I am forever grateful for your advice and shared empathy throughout the many sleepless nights. To my brother Nick and God-sister Eliana, your expert input and feedback is immeasurable. I would also like to thank my friends. Abbey you always believed in my ability to get to this stage, I wish we could rejoice together. To my family away from home: Wenjin, you always drove me to achieve my potential; Lana and Meiying (thank you for all those encouraging words and morning phone calls), Parisa, Padriac, Olga, Dee, Reena, Faith, Stavros, Ana, Cliff, Rami, Eddie and many more, your utmost confidence, kindness and at times patience, motivated me to realise my goals. You all maintained a sense of hope and humour when I had lost mine. Lastly, I am extremely thankful to the University of Exeter Forum staff and participants who took the time to speak with me and complete my questionnaire, their participation was essential to everything I achieved in this study. Page 3 of 293 Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................. 2 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................... 3 Table of Contents ............................................................................................. 4 List of Tables .................................................................................................... 8 List of Figures ................................................................................................... 9 List of Plates ................................................................................................... 10 List of Equations ............................................................................................ 10 1. Introduction ............................................................................................. 11 1.1. Background Context ........................................................................... 11 1.1.1. Space and Spatiality: Overview .................................................. 11 1.1.2. Organisational Space: Overview ................................................. 14 1.2. The significance of this study ............................................................. 15 1.2.1. Organisational Space and the Multi-locational Worker ............... 15 1.3. Aims and Objectives .......................................................................... 17 1.4. Structure of the Thesis ....................................................................... 19 2. Literature Review .................................................................................... 22 2.1. Introduction ........................................................................................ 22 2.2. Understanding Organisational Space ................................................. 24 2.3. Framing Power in Built Form .............................................................. 26 2.3.1. The built form: Geographic Location ........................................... 27 2.3.2. Spatial Power .............................................................................. 30 2.3.3. Ecological Psychology ................................................................ 39 2.4. The Social Production of Space ......................................................... 48 2.4.1. Organisational Architecture: within the organisation ................... 53 2.4.2. Organisation Architecture and Communication ........................... 54 2.5. Change in organisational Space ........................................................ 59 2.6. Creating a workspace and Identity ..................................................... 63 Page 4 of 293 2.7. Actor-Network Theory and Performativity .......................................... 67 2.8. Summary and Conclusion .................................................................. 74 3. Methodology ............................................................................................ 77 3.1. Introduction ........................................................................................ 77 3.1.1. Reiterating the Research Gap..................................................... 78 3.1.2. Restating the aims and objectives .............................................. 78 3.2. Research Strategy ............................................................................. 80 3.3. Methods ............................................................................................. 86 3.3.1. Mixed Methods ............................................................................ 86 3.3.2. Case Study ................................................................................. 88 3.4. Design and Execution of Methods ..................................................... 89 3.4.1. The Organisation: The University of Exeter ................................ 89 3.4.2. The Forum .................................................................................. 90 3.4.3. Qualitative: Observation and Interviews ...................................... 95 3.4.4. Quantitative: Questionnaire ...................................................... 101 3.5. Data Analysis ................................................................................... 103 3.5.1. Thematic Analysis ..................................................................... 104 3.5.2. Statistical Analysis .................................................................... 104 3.6. Research Ethics ............................................................................... 107 3.7. Summary .........................................................................................