Sandoz: Unifying forces: Consolidating teams in a new headquarters post-spinoff – Prague
Sandoz Competency Centres, distributed globally, unify teams that work across borders to provide support to horizontal business areas. Sandoz Czech site is one of the Competency Centres following one of the relocation strategies designed for the transition towards a 100% spin-off organisation.
Basel, Switzerland / Prague, Czech Republic
M²: 3.200 m² / 3.200 m²
Sector: Pharma – Generics and Biosimilars
Year: 2023-2024
The site in Prague is composed of profiles from the Commercial Operations team (CommOps) as well as a large number of associates from the Competency Centres (global functions). In summer 2023, Sandoz announced the move to a new permanent new location by mid-2024. This long-term solution will have capacity for the growing team located in the Czech site.
In the meantime, Sandoz is occupying a space in the Novartis office (Gemini B). The move to this temporary space happened in July 2023, and some challenges were identified at that stage which demanded a strong planification and alignment of the moves as well as the accompaniment of all the professionals involved in the relocation process.
- Relocation strategy: Two moves were planned in 14 months, which raised questions, concerns, and rumours. It was key to address all questions associates may raise throughout the process.
- New behaviours: With the effective spin-off getting closer, there was a need to bring associates together as quickly as possible to grow as a team and feel part of the new Sandoz culture.
- Tight deadlines: With the move planned for less than two months, project management was key to provide structure and align the different functions involved in the process (PMO & TMO).
- Clear communication: Associates were not aware of the future plans of relocation, which implied a need to communicate and accompany them in both the short-term and long-term moves.
- Diverse profiles: Associates in Prague came from different functions (CommOps and Competency Centres) and were in different momentum. A different approach needed to be followed with each group in order to address different requirements or concerns.
During their stay in the interim office, Sandoz associates had the opportunity to share specific requirements of their work dynamics and to co-design the future Czech site. The new office will occupy approximatively 3.200 sqm of available space. This entire space is accommodated on three floors, enabling associates to collaborate closely, and providing a variety of space options for different purposes.
