Purpose: This paper discusses the importance of effectively engaging people in sharing information and managing its implementation across organisations as a key part of successful change initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach: Consideration why information is important to an organisation and how people and space contribute to its current and future effective management.

Findings: How flexibility of working practices and the creative management of physical and virtual space empowers and enables change in innovating new working practices.

Research limitations/implications: How creative thinking contributes to flexibility and streamlining of established practices to achieve effective information management. There is no “final answer” – it is an ongoing iterative process which depends on people engagement for continued success.

Practical implications: Within a working environment of ongoing change, it is important that the value of engaging people in organisational change is embedded as a key part of assuring continuing successful outcomes.

Social implications: The methods of engaging people in successful change need to be carefully considered to maximise overall outcomes reflecting a “hearts and mind” perspective. Approaches used are often individual to different groups within wider communities. All contribute to achieving effective change outcomes across a whole organisation.

Originality/value: Today’s information age is ever changing. People are an organisations best asset. An effective information management system enables a flexible, agile and response to access data, develop information and progress knowledge to build ongoing sustainability. © 2017, © Emerald Publishing Limited.