Check out Medtronic's 5,235-sq m regional headquarters

Meeting rooms were named after UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Medtronic opened its new Asia Pacific regional headquarters in Singapore in May 2016, and it is located at the Mapletree Business City (MBC) II. Comprising 5,235 square meters spread over two floors, it offers green credentials and provides a healthy work environment for its employees, aligned to the Medtronic ethos. The new office, which houses the Asia Pacific Service and Repair Centre of Excellence, will strengthen and support Medtronic operations across 80 locations in Asia Pacific.

Medtronic has design standards for all of its global offices but it is the firm’s preference for every office to have its own individual style. Serene Kee, senior specialist, talent management and development at Medtronic Southeast Asia, shared that in Singapore, they made sure that they are aligned with the global design standards yet still retain regional cultural alignment. “For instance, we named our meeting rooms according to our Medtronic Mission and select UNESCO World Heritage Sites to reflect our values, collaborative nature and global mindset,” she said.

She further explained that last year’s integration with distributor Covidien gave Medtronic the impetus to giv e the brand a new look and a new voice.It was the biggest acquisition ever done in the medical technology industry at $42b, and prompted the firm to make the new office play a meaningful role in integration efforts to present and engage employees on the new Medtronic brand – Further, Together. “We achieved that in the overall look and feel of the space through using Medtronic brand colors, furniture, and Mission posters etc,” Kee added.

One of the key challenges they faced in the transition included navigating the VUCA – volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous – environment that they were operating in. “In a large organization like Medtronic, especially with the integration with Covidien, robust workforce planning and communications are absolutely critical. As we planned for the move, we had to consider how the new space can best support team structures and work practices so that we can effectively develop our workforce and resources in a forward planning manner,” she said.

For instance, Kee shared that they arranged for pre-move visits to raise the excitement, organized office briefings and appointed ‘Move Champions’ who advocated and supported the relocation. Following that, the team continued to engage strongly with employees through games and contests to celebrate the move and assist with change management even after the move has been completed.