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Macquarie Bank: Our first Australian ABW Project

It's not about the building

"My belief is that we actually end up with a better community of more people are more effective at their work."
PETER MAHER
CEO Macquarie Bank

Case Study Overview

Case Study Overview

A global diversified financial group across 25 countries

Organisation: Banking and Financial Services Division

Location: One Shelley Street, Sydney, Australia

Employees: ~3000

Office Footprint: 30,000 sqm

Key Concept: Transparency, Collaboration & Teamwork

The Back Story

The Back Story

In 2009 Macquarie Group's Banking and Financial Services division of approximately 3,000 staff leased a new headquarters at One Shelley Street in Sydney.

Macquarie wanted to define what transparency, collaboration and teamwork meant for the organisation by developing and implementing a new workstyle and workplace concept.

01

The Challenge

Leadership recognised the potential in adopting ABW to align One Shelley Street workspace and workstyle with the goals and values of the organisation and to embody the brand. But one challenge in particular was identified: How to break down silos?

One Shelley Street would be home to one division, but that division was made up of many different business units. Cross-collaboration and inter-business teamwork were not part of the existing behaviours at Macquarie Bank.

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02

The Outcome

The new environment that Macquarie occupied in 2009 was light-filled, transparent, diverse and colourful. The early post-occupancy experience at One Shelley St revealed continuing challenges like:

  • “How do I supervise a team I can’t see?”
  • “How can a team be a team when they are not necessarily in the same place?”

But as Peter Maher pointed out, resolving these issues was part of the ongoing journey and part of a permanent process of change management.

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03

Results in Numbers

6 months after the move, users were surveyed to discover how they felt about the new way of working at One Shelley Street:
  • 92% would prefer NOT to return to their old way of working
  • 73% of people said the implementation to ABW had changed their view on working for Macquarie positively
  • 55% of people said the new way of working had made them more effective in their performance – only 6% of people thought they are less effective
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“What is important was to set a vision and goals right at the start.”
ALISON CREED
Program Director | One Shelley Street Project

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Ultimately, we will work with you to create a unique culture and environment where people will have the space to thrive, the freedom to genuinely connect with one another and will proudly work as a part of your organisation.