From Sydney to Shanghai, successful workplace change relies on cultural awareness, employee engagement

Jones Lang LaSalle report examines how companies are using CRE to drive the bottom line

SINGAPORE, July 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Understanding cultural differences is the key to successful workplace change programs in Asia, according to a new report from Jones Lang LaSalle.

Alternative workplace strategies (AWS) can improve space usage and support increased business productivity through supporting the nature of work today and enabling mobile workers. In a recent Jones Lang LaSalle survey of real estate professionals in Asia Pacific, 30% indicated they have implemented AWS and it is working well, while 36% said they would like to try it.

Key findings of the report "Driving Effective Workplace Change in Asia":

• Economic uncertainty, emerging technologies, talent shortages and the pursuit of increased business productivity are forcing organizations to consider enabling mobile workers and more flexible workstyles.
• In Asia, mind-sets about work style change are evolving due to the accelerating globalisation of Asian multi-national corporations (MNCs).
• The diversity of local cultures in Asia requires workplace change programs to be culturally adapted, not merely transplanted from West to East.
• For many Asian corporations, geographic expansion means hiring locals in the countries they enter and adapting their work policies to suit a more culturally diverse workforce.
• Telecommuting has been successfully implemented by MNCs in Asia, especially IT companies. In post-earthquake Japan, companies are embracing programs enabling employees to work from home to raise productivity, reduce transportation pollution and support business continuity planning.
• India is a leader of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend, where employees use their own IT equipment at work; resulting in increased mobility, higher job satisfaction and productivity and efficiency improvements.

Su Lim, Head of Strategic Workplace Services, Asia Pacific at Jones Lang LaSalle said: "The time is ripe for workplace change in Asia. However, even with the best intentions, 70% of change initiatives fail and workplace change is no exception. The keys to success are leadership endorsement and employee engagement. Understanding how leadership and culture influence the workplace, and which factors contribute to employee engagement or resistance, is crucial to success."

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Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE:JLL) is a financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate. The firm offers integrated services delivered by expert teams worldwide to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying or investing in real estate. With 2011 global revenue of $3.6bn, Jones Lang LaSalle serves clients in 70 countries from more than 1,000 locations worldwide, including 200 corporate offices. The firm is an industry leader in property and corporate facility management services, with a portfolio of approximately 2.1bn square feet worldwide. LaSalle Investment Management, the company's investment management business, is one of the world's largest and most diverse in real estate with $47.2bn of assets under management.  www.joneslanglasalle.com/asiapacific