The Umoja team has a unique workspace design and layout that facilitates frequent staff interaction and expression of ideas. This open-plan layout has been cost-efficient and supports the team’s work: the re-engineering of UN business processes with the goal of creating a more flexible and efficient organization.

The Umoja office on the 24th floor of the Mobil building (150 E 42nd Street) has no cubicles and only a few offices, most of which are shared. With few physical boundaries between staff, they can meet easily with other colleagues and consultants. The environment is dynamic, interactive and fast-paced.

Staff occupy adjoining desks positioned in long rows and they are not arranged hierarchically. Directors, Professional staff, General Service staff and interns work alongside each other. This encourages staff to express themselves and creates a friendly, collegial atmosphere.

“When you look at our office space, it’s impossible to tell which staff are Professional or General Service” says Travis Weyer an Umoja Central Services Support Team Member. “It creates a positive environment that’s good for team morale. It’s also easier for newcomers to feel welcome and learn quickly about Umoja” says Weyer.

Newcomers find many surprises on joining Umoja. While staff enjoy their open, light-filled space, it’s sparse and purely functional in many ways. Staff members have been sharing phone lines while more lines are installed.

Phone booths from the old Secretariat building were moved to Umoja’s space to provide space for phone calls. It’s a rare example of old technology being used successfully to support modern communications. It also supports the UN’s goal of recycling its assets whenever possible.

Another unique aspect of the space is the high number of meeting rooms: there are 16 in total for the team of 155 staff and consultants. These rooms are heavily used each day for meetings, workshops and ad hoc group discussions. Since all Umoja staff use laptops instead of desktops, it’s a common sight to see people carrying their laptops to conference rooms for individual or group projects.

The environment has made staff more flexible and adaptable. Newcomers go through a period of adjustment, but most grow to prefer the open, mobile way of working to their former cubicles or offices.

The Umoja office space may be an example of what’s to come for many Secretariat staff based in New York. According to the website of the Capital Master Plan, the renovated Secretariat building will have “more open, common space and less closed hierarchically defined individual space.” The Umoja team will certainly be prepared for these changes – and they will have a list of lessons-learned to share!

To learn more about Umoja visit www.unumoja.org.

Originally published on iSeek in English and French on 29 April 2011