Maturity of workplace relocation: a systematic literature review from 1990 to 2020

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims to identify research gaps on workplace relocation, through investigating and critiquing the published literature, in the facilities management (FM) and real estate management (REM) domains, over three decades. Design/methodology/approach – An extensive literature review was conducted, using academic search engines, using qualitative analysis software, in the domains of FM and REM, on workplace relocation, from 1990 to 2020, chronologically. The paper proposes future research directions through a maturity matrix. Findings – Several gaps in workplace relocation research were identified, including the need for a wideranging coverage of workplace relocation lifecycle, a review and assessment of factors affecting workplace relocation over its lifecycle, studies on large organizations mobility, studies of international experiences on workplace relocation, absence of a holistic framework for the workplace relocation process and digital tools and solutions to facilitate the processes. A three levels maturity matrix for future research, proposing the adoption of qualitative, quantitative and applications research approaches, was presented. Practical implications – This study enlists a chronological comprehension of knowledge obtained from the review of the internationally published literature. The research investigated and identified gaps, gripping for future research efforts. Originality/value – This study reviews 30 years of published literature on workplace relocation and proposes topics for advancing future research, collectively. Keywords Facilities management, Literature review, Gaps, Real estate management, Research directions, Workplace relocation