The 2013 reorganisation of the Dutch Police into a single organisation with ten regional units
significantly reshaped their real estate needs, prompting plans to reduce 700.000 m² of real estate, add 200.000 m² of new construction, and renovate assets to align with the organisational changes. Since 2017, the Police have adopted a housing policy containing standardisation to tackle their real estate needs, including streamline processes, reduce costs, and create uniformity in new team bureaus. But balancing standardisation with diverse end user needs remains a key challenge, since it’s hard to make changes to the standards in place. The resulting tension between standardisation and diverse user needs raises critical questions about its impact on satisfaction in new team bureaus. Since 2021, new Police team bureaus with standard aspects and standard processes have been developed under this housing policy, but no research has yet explored the impact of standardisation on user satisfaction. This research sought to fill that gap by investigating how the Police's standardisation approach influences end user satisfaction in the new team
bureaus by answering the following research question: “How does the standardisation aspect of the housing policy affect end user satisfaction in the new Police team bureaus?”. To answer this research question, qualitative data collection methods were used. The methods involved a literature review, a case study analysis and in-depth interviews. For the case study, four team bureaus were selected. In-depth interviews were conducted with Police housing staff, end users of team bureaus and architects to gather insights into standardisation and the satisfaction of end users.
Standardisation within the housing policy occurs within standard products and standard processes.
Findings indicate that user involvement and clear, transparent communication in standardised processes, such as the design phase, positively influence satisfaction, while the requirements phase, perceived as overly theoretical, reduces it. Standardised products like building blocks and lay-outs are functional but sometimes struggle to meet specific needs such as noise control and spaces for focused work. Satisfaction hinges on the quality of the standard and its ability to balance uniformity with flexibility. Based on this results, recommendations have been formulated. They pertain to standardising processes, communication, incorporating Post-Occupancy Evaluations, monitoring policy documents, creating
involvement and other important aspects of standard products and processes.

The significance of sustainability and sustainable development has been the subject of increasing attention. As is evident in our daily lives, sustainability concerns individuals, but it is also on the agenda of governments and private organisations. Many sectors have focused on sustainability, including corporate real estate, but in this sector the focus is mainly on offices. There is a lack of literature on industrial real estate, which plays the supporting role to the main business, in the context of sustainability. This research aims to address this specific type of corporate real estate and to explore, through a case study, what drives sustainable development in the corporate real estate of a manufacturing company located within the European Union. The case study method included literature review, interviews and document analysis to answer the main research question: "What are the external and internal drivers of sustainability in corporate real estate management of a manufacturing company?" Based on literature and market findings the research was designed around four main categories of drivers: stakeholders, financial incentives, regulatory drivers and risk management. The findings show the importance of stakeholders and regulations; financial incentives are important but not directly recognized as drivers; climate change risk and risk management are at an early stage of development. Nevertheless, there is a growing recognition of the importance of sustainability of corporate real estate, despite its supporting role. This research contributes to the knowledge gap regarding the sustainability of industrial real estate.

Corporate Real Estate Management (CREM) professionals face diverse challenges, from space optimization to financial decision-making, in their field. The potential of emerging AI technologies, such as ChatGPT, remains underexplored in this context. This research seeks to address this knowledge gap by examining whether a tailored ChatGPT can significantly enhance the capabilities of CREM professionals with a focus on property managers. The central question revolves around ChatGPT's utility within Property management, aiming to answer the fundamental question: "‘’What is the added value of a tailored ChatGPT for professionals in Property Management?" A mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, is employed. This approach encompasses in-depth interviews, thematic analysis, and surveys to assess ChatGPT's performance. The research objectives encompass evaluating ChatGPT's performance compared to human experts and gauging its added value. The anticipated outcomes include a comprehensive research findings report, quantitative and qualitative datasets, and a tailored ChatGPT for property managers. This research aspires to understand the potential role of a tailored ChatGPT in CREM and providing insights to policymakers and technologists regarding AI's potential in shaping the future of CREM.

When considering the future, an inherent debate is whether the future ‘overcomes us’ or is steerable. This is reflected in how the future is approached in both postmodern and positivist theory, respectively, according to Gong (2024). However, considering the paradox of observing systems as put forward by Luhmann (1995), one always has influence over the future. Therefore, the future must be approached as something that both ‘overcomes us’ as well as something steerable. It is at this point where the theory of critical realism finds the middle ground between postmodern and positivist theory.
Engaging with the future within the context of our field, management in the built environment, specifically corporate real estate (CRE) portfolio strategies, an often used tool by portfolio managers is scenario planning. Scenario planning for use in strategies can be split up into two schools of thought: explorative scenario planning (XSP), which is mainly used by the private sector and aligns with postmodern theory on futures that ‘overcome us’ on the one hand, and normative scenario planning (NSP) on the other, which is mostly used by the public sector and builds on the positivist theory that the future is steerable. Meanwhile, there appears to be no method of scenario planning that aligns with critical realist theory. Combining XSP and NSP to form a Combined Scenario Planning (CSP) method could possibly fill this gap. To this end, this thesis aims to answer the following question: Can explorative scenario planning and normative scenario planning be combined in a single method and what could be its impact on corporate real estate portfolio strategies?
Through in-depth interviews and literature study, it has been found that while these methodologies differed, there was no upfront hindrance in combining XSP and NSP. Combined with how scenario planning can be used in formulating CRE portfolio strategies, it was possible to develop a new CSP method through of research by design. This CSP method proposes an 8-step protocol in which normative brainstorming delivers a list of actions, which are tested against either chosen or developed explorative scenarios. When an expert panel of CRE portfolio managers evaluated this method on how this could perform for strategizing, it was found that while the CSP method shows promise, particularly as a strategic support tool, its practical implementation and ease of use need refinement. Real-world testing and further development are essential to address the concerns raised by the expert panel.

This graduation project explores the feasibility of renewing the competition for the Asplund Library in Stockholm. The competition and assignment focus on a possible extension. A renewed proposal will have to determine if the original intended program still reflects the needs of a contemporary library. Furthermore, this proposal seriously questions whether the established strategies of working with heritage still hold up in a world that must deal with limits to growth.

The proposal suggests that by looking beyond the strategies of adding to and contrasting with existing architecture, the brief can be answered in a much more modest way.

Although people spend 90% of their time indoors, the issue of indoor air pollution had not gained interest as compared to outdoor until the global Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic made people and the scientific community realise the importance of good indoor air quality in tackling such health crises. There has been heightened public awareness and stricter air quality guidelines which the facility managers are responsible to address. As a response, they are shifting to innovative approaches and utilising smart indoor air quality (IAQ) technologies available to manage the IAQ better. Various smart technologies and services are available in the market which measure, monitor and report indoor air quality solutions. This research aims to explore: How does the adoption of smart IAQ technologies help the facility managers of Dutch universities and what are the barriers to it? The context is chosen to be university buildings due to the impact of IAQ on cognitive functions and the rising demand for health and comfort in educational spaces. This exploratory research includes theoretical desk research, qualitative case studies and interviews. The current status of different smart technology service providing companies are researched and evaluated. The use and benefits of these technologies in three Dutch universities is explored through the case studies and interviews with their facility managers. The interviews add to identifying barriers to the technologies from the perspective of a facility manager. A cross case analysis is done to compare and contrast the findings. One of the case studies is further investigated to get an in-depth understanding of the barriers to adoption from a different stakeholder perspective. The results show that the adoption and utilisation of smart IAQ technologies, depending on their level, can help the facility managers of Dutch universities in maintaining and enhancing an optimum indoor air quality, ensuring occupant health & safety, and taking a proactive role by making data driven decisions. However, there are several barriers in the process such as lack of knowledge, resources and manpower, conflict of stakeholders, split incentive, security issues and active involvement of facility managers in the process. The research lastly suggests recommendations to overcome these barriers to make use of these technologies effectively and to their full potential.

The rising prevalence of workplace-related mental health issues, particularly burnout, has garnered significant attention from both public and private sectors. This thesis investigates how workplace strategies incorporate mental health considerations, focusing on the development process and implementation within Dutch corporate offices. Against a backdrop of increasing burnout rates and associated costs, now exceeding €3.3 billion annually in the Netherlands, this study aims to bridge the knowledge gap on how mental health is embedded within workplace strategy-making. Utilising a qualitative, abductive research approach, this study combines theoretical review and an embedded single-case study, including document analysis and semi-structured interviews. Findings reveal that while well-being is strategically prioritised, translating these aspirations into actionable measures remains challenging. The research identifies a disconnect between intangible mental health considerations, which are well integrated into organizational strategies, and tangible workplace implementations, which often fade to the background due to feasibility constraints and funding limitations. The study concludes that mental health remains underprioritised in workplace strategy, without a cohesive and clear approach. This segmentation hinders effective cascading of mental health priorities across organizational levels, raising questions about responsibility and actionability. Addressing these gaps, the thesis highlights the need for greater clarity, enhanced interdepartmental collaboration, and stronger support for mental health considerations throughout workplace strategy formulation and implementation.

This study explores the use and demand for offices in the Netherlands in 2050. Employees and employers have not found a balance in hybrid working, resulting in significant hidden vacancy. This refers to office space that is leased but not utilized, leading to ineffective office management. Real estate managers lack a guide to formulate a future-proof strategy for their real estate portfolio. Therefore, this study examines four exploratory scenarios on how work could be conducted in 2050 and its implications for office demand. This helps map external developments that may influence the demand for offices. The central research question is: "How can societal trends influence the way people work and, therefore, the demand for offices?" In this study, human scale and technology use are identified as the two key uncertainties. Along these uncertainties, four scenarios have been developed: Human Hands, Bionic Man, Manual Machines, and Technological Domination. In each of these scenarios, there is a different balance between human and technology, resulting in distinct characteristics of offices. In the Human Hands scenario, the quantitative demand for offices increases, while in the other three scenarios, this demand decreases. Nonetheless, each scenario indicates that there will still be a demand for offices in the Netherlands in 2050.

Restrictions from the covid pandemic are lifted. However, the office remains changed, the hybrid way of working seems to stick. Employees want flexibility and choose when to work from home and when they work in the office. The norm of a hybrid work week is working three days in the office and two days from home. Resulting in office space that is not used as much as before the pandemic. Therefore organizations are looking into reducing their office space (Syme, P., 2023).

When considering the reduction of office space, it is also important to consider an organization’s employees. In this research, the focus lies on the impact space reduction might have on the perceived productivity of the employees. The focus on productivity is due to the impact productivity has on the performance of an organization (Aziri, 2011). If office space is reduced and the office therefore has a higher occupancy level, what does this do to the employee productivity? According to research done by Center for People and Buildings (2023), a higher occupancy level in the working environment results in employees being less satisfied with the availability of workplaces. With a higher occupancy, employees are forced to have video meetings in the open workspace, while other employees/colleagues are doing concentration work in the same space at the same time (Center for People and Buildings, 2023). Looking at these uncertainties, the main research question therefore is: ‘How can global pharmaceutical companies reduce their office space in the Netherlands while still maintaining perceived employee productivity?’. The research focuses on global pharmaceutical companies that are reducing their office space. The focus lies on these companies, in order to define the research on a specific branch and due to the timeframe. In order to answer the research question, the research starts with a literature study. After the literature study, a series of case studies including interviews are done on global pharmaceutical companies. These companies have already experienced an office reduction and are planning on implementing a second reduction within the same project or with another project. The case studies provide insight into potential challenges concerning office reduction and maintaining employee productivity. After analyzing the case studies a cross case study analysis has been done. With the insights from the cross case analysis solutions have been found on how global pharmaceutical companies have tried to successfully reduce office space while keeping employee productivity. The research can help organizations with the decision-making on their office use.

The real estate industry is increasingly challenged to integrate sustainability into its operations, more specifically by the growing importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) values. Simultaneously, the advancement of digital functions is reshaping industries worldwide, including the real estate industry, by transforming operational strategies and processes. This convergence places significant pressure on the industry to adopt ESG values while understanding their interconnection with digital functions.
As a result, this research explores the dynamic interplay between ESG values and digital functions, focusing on how their integration can enhance sustainable development in real estate. Employing a multi-stakeholder, chain-oriented approach, the study examines key ESG value constellations and their interconnection with digital functions. Real estate developers, as key actors in initiating, planning, and managing real estate development projects, are positioned as the primary focus group for this research for understanding and addressing this interconnection.
The main objective is to add onto academic literature and develop practicalities and insights that provide real estate developers with actionable insights to navigate the complexities of ESG values and digital functions effectively. By advancing understanding in this area, the study aims to contribute to the future of real estate development characterised by sustainability, transparency, and resilience, aligning with broader global goals for environmental and social responsibility.

Clients and architects drift apart due to a lack of communication (Angral, 2019). Their relationships deteriorate. Relationship quality is seen as a key determinant for (dis-)satisfaction with clients. So, a lack of communication induces less successful projects. Architects could be more client oriented. Furthermore, it seems that architects rarely rely on formalized procedures for (customizing) client interactions. Therefore, this research investigates: “(How) can customized interactions influence perceived service quality, in the case of private residential projects?
To answer this question three explorative case studies were conducted at different international architecture offices. The cases (architecture firms) were selected based on their size (small) and vision to incorporate clients in their designing processes. Every firm responded with two to three projects as units for research (projects). The units were first introduced via a survey about the interactions used. These first survey findings were used as input for the consecutive client interviews by which clients were asked to reflect on these interactions. The clients were purposely selected for having both none and earlier experience, as research revealed service perception significantly differs amongst those groups. Also, the clients were asked about recommendations on service improvement. Finally, with the previous data in consideration, architects were interviewed about their view on the interactions and improvements for these projects.
With the interview data a model was constructed to identify the customizations. It was found that on average for the individual projects the customizations did contribute to a higher service quality. Yet, when comparing the SQ ratings with the number of customizations in all the cases, only a minor correlation between the perceived service quality and customizations was found, the significance of this relationship is limited, and the method of interviews and analysis, were too sensitive to be able construct a well-supported argument on the moderating effect of interactions on service quality. When implementing customizations, it is deemed especially important for the architect to use his soft skills and experience to decide whether and which customizations should be implemented. Especially the type of client and project should be taken into consideration. Considering the different project phases, a person-oriented customization might be more appropriate at the briefing phases, to strengthen the relationship, while in the designing phases also task-based customizations could be done, to also improve the technical quality. Furthermore, it is argued that with the rise of new technology and digitalization architects can improve their communication and education subsequently. Especially for unexperienced client’s, digital education & designing tools could help them in both increasing their understanding and participation in the project, which contribute to their perception of the service quality. This is deemed especially important for the industry of bespoke projects and private residential projects where both clients and architects seek for the best services. Considering the communicative nature of this projects, introvert architects should be aware that appropriate soft skills are to be implemented to increase service quality. Especially for introvert architects, this should be monitored and trained if needed. If not, it is recommended, to allocate the communication to team members or a project manager.
Furthermore, this explorative study reveals, this initial model can be a basis to define a default or benchmark of interactions and customizations in this field. Next research could further define the models’ parameters and include more, and less successful projects to improve reliability.

The pressure for businesses to respond and contribute to sustainability is increasing and organizations are expected to actively address these issues (Joyce & Paquin, 2016). However, achieving circularity in real estate development poses significant challenges and barriers. Previous studies have primarily focused on the drivers and barriers influencing frontrunner’s uptake of circular solutions, particularly within the supply side. Meanwhile, the perspective of non-frontrunner clients and the demand side of circularity has gotten limited attention.
This study aims to enhance circularity in the built environment by exploring how corporate real estate clients who are not early adopters can implement circular ambitions and solutions. The thesis research focuses on the demand side of corporate real estate within the Dutch context, utilizing a mixed-approach that combines theoretical research and on-field investigation. The study identifies two groups of interest: early adopters and next adopters. Then, through qualitative field interviews with representatives from 12 organizations it sheds light on the experiences of both groups. The findings reveal that the main drivers for next adopters of circularity are the organization's core business and personal motivation, while the primary barriers include uncertainty regarding circularity benefits and a general lack of circularity awareness. Based on these findings, the study concludes by providing circularity adoption recommendations tailored to corporate real estate clients who are new to the field.
By addressing the demand side and considering the experiences of non-frontrunner clients, this research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of circularity in real estate development and offers practical guidance for organizations seeking to embrace circular solutions in their operations.

Purpose - The purpose of the research is to use existing data from literature, collect qualitative and quantitative data from experts in the luxury industry to discover what the optimal workplace is for left and right brained talent.

Methodology - This research follows the explanatory sequential mixed method design, presented by Blaikie and Priest (2019). In retroductive research, quantitative and qualitative data from in-depth interviews, as well as an expert review, are used to formulate the results. Participants are selected that are working in the service office of the Benelux for various maisons (right brained talent) or for the holding (left brained talent) itself. The experts for the review are chosen based on their seniority in the corporate real estate department of the holding company's headquarters.

Findings - The results showed that left brained talent sees itself as the binding factor of the organization who value (in)formal activities and connectivity in the workplace, while right brained talent values integrity, identity, and expressions of brand heritage. A workplace that takes integrity into account whilst providing informal meeting spaces. As well as standardization of the office interior with easy demountable and transferable objects to express brand heritage boosts productivity and overall sustainability of the workplace. The new proposed strategy ‘Workplace 5.0’ presents a set of 4 objectives with each a corresponding means/tool to develop workplaces that best support the staff in developing their skills, their activities and retaining the best talent to ultimately improve performance.

Practical implications - Insight in the core values and preferences of talent in the luxury industry can fill a future gap in formulating CREM strategies that tackle the upcoming trends from a user perspective.

Social implications – Insight into workplace core values can contribute to the potential of the industry reform.

Originality/value – There have been few to none studies that investigate the workplace core values of left and right brained talent in an office where they coexist.

The COVID-19 pandemic's onset was a critical change for employees all over the world. Many aspects of how they operated, including their working atmosphere, underwent a revolution as a result. As a result, there has been a shift in the nature of “work”. Work is now something you do, not a place you go. It can be done anywhere. Since it is now more normal to be flexible regarding time and location, there are now more working styles than ever. Organisations are getting more involved with changing the workplace to employees' needs and demands to ensure that their real estate continues to meet corporate goals. Since employees are an organisation's most valuable asset, designing and maintaining the physical, virtual, and social workplace to adhere to productivity and employee satisfaction is now crucial for organisations looking to achieve a competitive advantage. This forces organisations to be more accountable, and inclusive, and better integrate stakeholders into their decision-making processes, particularly by paying attention to input and foreseeing expectations from stakeholders. Participation in spatial planning is becoming more widely recognised as a valuable method of gain access to community skills and local knowledge as well as including residents in conversations about place. A strategy that promotes user participation is placemaking. The strategy is born out of the ethical insertion of a specifically designed space into existing settings, opening a platform for dialogue about public places among the many involved stakeholders. This study explores the use of placemaking as a new approach in corporate real estate to transition towards the workplace of the future. Placemaking, or the practice of inspiring people to collectively reimagine and reinvent spaces at the heart of every community, can play a significant role in creating a workspace that is conducive to productivity, collaboration, and innovation. The study combines expert knowledge with case studies from the Dutch real estate market to answer the main research question: How can placemaking help the transition to a future workplace? The characteristics of placemaking are used in four phases of the transition towards a future workplace. Overall, this study provides valuable insights for companies seeking to create adaptable and innovative workspaces that meet the needs of their employees and organization.

The concept of circular economy has gained popularity as an affordable and viable solution to housing problems, providing a cyclical alternative flow model that reuses materials. Despite the Netherlands being one of the first countries to move towards circular housing, implementation issues and a lack of motivation from some stakeholders remain. This study aims to identify the impact of circular economy on the relationship between landlords and tenants in the Dutch rental real estate market. By conducting a literature review and semi-structured interviews with industry experts and stakeholders, the study seeks to answer the research question: "How will circular rental real estate investment affect the relationship between tenants and landlords?" The study will add to the existing knowledge by establishing practical relevance in terms of costs and rent prices and creating awareness of the perceived value available in circular housing.

This study aims to explore the impact of employee separation as a result of hybrid working on the organisational commitment of ORGANISATION X’s workforce. The findings of this research aim to offer valuable insights to ORGANISATION X's understanding on how the alternating remote and in-office work setup may influence the commitment levels of ORGANISATION X's employees.

The research methodology employed in the initial study of this thesis encompasses quantitative research, in addition to a comprehensive literature review. This quantitative research entails surveying the entire office-based workforce at ORGANISATION X. The results of the researches have yielded fascinating insights, offering a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between hybrid working elements and commitment to the organisation. The primary research findings demonstrate a nuanced relationship between hybrid work and organisational commitment, with only two of the nine potential relationships between hybrid work and organisational commitment found. Therefore, the 'sense of belonging' or the organisational commitment referred to in this research can be seen as being affected by hybrid work only to a small, insignificant extent.

Additionally, the study explored the influence of other variables, such as physical proximity, dependency, and socio-demographic factors, on shaping employees' commitment to the organisation. The study shows a positive relation between physical proximity, particularly arranged in-person meetings, and dependency on co-workers and organisational commitment. These are believed to influence the separation awareness among employees.

Navi Mumbai is a city designed to diffuse the overpopulation problem of Mumbai. However, there were villages in the area that developed informally alongside the formal city. These villages present several problems such as inadequate housing, identity loss, lack of infrastructure, lack of public space, overcrowding and crammed streets. There are two possible outcomes for these villages, their eradication to make way for the formal city or their existence in limbo as leftover space. The project aims to break through this dichotomy and an urbanisation strategy is developed for the remaining villages in the city that anticipate informal development. The project focuses on Moha Koliwada, a fishing village that is inhabited by members of the Koli people. An urban plan is developed first to provide the community with the necessary infrastructure to urbanise in a healthy manner. Three housing typologies are designed to serve different purposes: to ensure the important access to the sea, to maintain village life and to increase the density of the village. The housing typologies are inspired from Indian modernism and more specifically low rise - high density projects. The aim is to allow these villages to connect with and contribute to the formal planned city while maintaining their distinct village character. The project attempts to show how these villages can provide housing for the urban poor in a better and more humane manner than the mass housing schemes developed by the authorities and more specifically CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation). The mass housing schemes are problematic as we are historically aware in the West, they don’t reach the poorest inhabitants in India and they unfortunately become an aspiration for many residents of informal settlements. Finally, guidelines regarding urban planning, stakeholders and housing typologies are developed for the urbanisation of other villages in Navi Mumbai.

During the worldwide pandemic between 2020 and 2022, lockdowns were instigated. Working from home became the norm for almost two years. This has caused the needs and preferences of employees and employers regarding work and the workplace to change for good.

As a result, the common preference for implementing more remote work in the post-pandemic era grew. This combination of remote work and in-office work is named a hybrid strategy. Many services and public sector managers plan to create a hybrid workplace to support these preferences. However, the research toward this post-pandemic office is in its starting blocks. Furthermore, creating a workplace is complex, and no one-size-fits-all solution exists. Managers must find a future workplace that aligns with their organisational beliefs, values, strategy, and assets. How these characteristics are used to transition toward a hybrid workplace remains unclear.

This research aims to understand how organisational characteristics are used to transition to a hybrid workplace. This knowledge can serve as a map for managers planning to initiate a similar transition and as a backbone for further research towards future workplaces.

A literature study first identifies the organisational characteristics by introducing a corporate real estate asset management model. Then, case studies are performed on implemented hybrid workplaces to collect data on how characteristics are used in a transition. Cases are collected from the client pool of the graduation organisation Dev_ real estate, a real estate advisor with experience with hybrid workplaces. Three cases are selected based on various selection criteria. The workplace can be seen as a complex issue. Therefore, a qualitative approach is used to analyse the various perspectives and data sources in-depth. Data is collected from semistructured interviews, exploring the views and experiences of the participants open-endedly. The
participants are the architect, the project manager, the organisational manager, and the employee. Other sources are internal reports and floor plans. The data is collected, reduced, and coded based on the model introduced in the literature. A within-case and cross-case analysis are performed to identify the similarities and differences between the cases and literature.

The analysis identifies a common sequencing of organisation characteristics used in all cases. The research also concludes that the neglect or ignorance of certain characteristics causes the hybrid workplace to remain unaligned with organisational values after completion. Furthermore, the management model used during this research is critically and improved for future post-Covid research.

Industrialised house-building is a delivery method that combines the know-how of many companies that standardise a part of their production within a common product platform and connect it with a unified interface. This way, organisations can adopt product customisation while keeping the advantages of mass production. Furthermore, those platforms create supplier networks that enable more efficient retention and exploitation of knowledge, leading to continuous improvement in product development. Firms that in traditional construction compete in IHB collaborate within the platform. However, the integration strategies that the product platform owner utilises to integrate this supplier network are underexplored by academics. In addition, the aspects of the IHB product platforms to be integrated are not sufficiently described. The research fills this gap by complementing existing research and conducting case studies from practice. Two case studies assess supplier networks in the platform, their level of integration and suppliers’ role in product platform development. The place of origin of those platforms differs; one is based in Sweden, and the second one is in the Czech Republic. It provides a broader scope of study and variability of setting. Several objectives and challenges for integrations are discovered in the three strategic levels that influence the strategy formulation. The thesis provides an integration strategy framework for platform owners who strive to establish or strengthen such a product platform. The framework will make it easier for platform owners to navigate ways to build and integrate relationships across the supply chain. Furthermore, four product platform element strategies are introduced.

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the notion that workplaces need adjustments to support employees - a heterogenous group of individuals from different cultures, generations, genders, with a myriad of personalities, completing vastly different tasks in varied contexts. Of particular interest in this thesis are the site specific cultural and institutional factors that create national differences. The influence of national context may need to be considered when global workplace strategies are formed in order to adequately address employee needs and preferences. Understanding the effect of national context on employee workplace preferences could foreshadow the acceptance (or lack thereof) of various post-pandemic workplace strategies and allow organizations to implement nuanced and contextualized solutions in the workplace. To answer the research question a literature review, statistical analysis, and expert interviews are completed. A literature review and statistical analysis of employee workplace preference data found similarities and differences in employee workplace preferences across national contexts in this sample. The preference for hybrid working was found across national contexts, while specific preferences relating to workplace components and facilities and services often varied between contexts in this case. Although the data reflected significant differences in employee post pandemic workplace preferences across the national contexts surveyed, it remains inconclusive if these differences can be attributed to national context or a myriad of other factors. In order to understand how workplace strategy may accommodate and better understand national context’s effect on the workplace, nine experts were interviewed. From the interviews a number of recommendations were formed to promote nuanced workplace strategy that responds to national context: 1) convey the benefits of accommodating employees to core organizations; 2) promote flexibility in global workplace strategy; 3) inform workplace strategy by gathering employee sentiment through quantitative and qualitative means; and 4) form workplace strategy with a multidisciplinary team.