Strategic decisions

Start working on the budget

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This section assumes that you need to move or to upgrade your offices. There are clear steps in the process of creating a new design for the office environment and they are there for a reason: to make sure you get what you need to the right quality and at a price you can justify.

Writing and agreeing the brief is the most important stage of the project. The brief should state the objectives and outline any property or staff restraints that could hamper implementation.

It is vital that the brief is written clearly and approved by the steering committee. It will be the document by which the success of the project is measured. A brief that is unclear or inaccurate will lead at worst to failure of the project or at best to increased costs because of the need to make changes as the project proceeds. Remember, items included at the beginning are always less expensive than the same items added later!
The next steps are all about transforming what might be no more that a gut feel to an action plan, gathering the right information and advisors to help implement that plan.

Consider these points about your business.

IQ Checklist 5.1 The brief: points to consider about your business

Consider these points about your offices.

IQ Checklist 5.2 The brief: points to consider about your offices

Taking time to write the brief properly will help in the communication of your objectives to all the people who will be involved. After all, it is only their knowledge of your requirements that drives them. The more they know, the better your needs will be met. The brief will evolve as the project progresses, and you will need to come back to it later.

You also need to agree a written brief for each professional advisor, and they should be made aware of your overall brief, so they can clearly understand your business and property objectives.

There are also a number of key points you will need to consider about your staff.

  • Will any of your staff be affected by the move?
  • Is the company at risk of loosing key staff?
  • What contingency plans/budgets are to be made for loss/recruitment of staff?
  • What contingency plans/budgets are in place for staff relocation?
  • What changes in organisation structure, reporting, working practices need to be considered?
  • What suppliers have been consulted to assist/advise on staff issues?

If you would like to know more about any of these issues, click here.