Strategic assesment of a credit card division
helps focus upcoming directions for management.

The Situation:
The Credit Card Division of PNC Bank faced a major crossroad
in 1997, when the group realized that their growth exceeded
existing facility capability. PNC Bank Realty Services
asked MGZA to embark upon an assessment of the
70,000 square foot organization, which employed over
200 people. MGZA was charged with developing a full
understanding of the organization’s growth potential,
as sites for relocation or new construction were evaluated.
The Problem:
The objectives of an organization are often brought
together in financial terms, for strategic business objective
determination, but the ramification of these objectives on
facilities issues may not be determined. The dollars associated
with personnel payroll, overall real estate costs and
general operational needs are considered in detail.
The ramifications of detailed operational needs,
such as how personnel growth may impact associated
support spaces or storage requirements are lost.
Most business strategists do not consider the financial impact
of growing out of space, including space required for
operations support. In advance of this planned move,
MGZA was contracted to translate business needs into
facility need projections.
The Process:
MGZA conducted extensive reviews of the organization
through operations observation, survey and personnel
interviews. Questionnaires, which are designed to extract
vital data affecting facilities needs, were distributed
to representatives from the division’s distinct groups.
As personnel and support needs were defined,
MGZA focused Department Managers and Key executives
on developing growth projections in a manner that
would lead to a realistic evaluation of real estate needs.
The Solution:
By application of strategic formulas to the square footage
needs mapped through the organization interviews,
MGZA was able to provide a map that led to rapid studies
resulting in “snap shots” of key buildings under
consideration for the moves.
With test-fit space plans in hand, MGZA calculated
occupancy projections, efficiencies and loss factors for the
buildings. By combining the results of the personnel
projection studies with the test-fit information,
MGZA was able to advise PNC Bank of the most efficient
building solution for their needs,
on both a long term and a short-term basis.