5 advantages of an open plan office layout
- Author Harry Clark
- Published April 22, 2011
- Word count 525
For many years much of the work force of an organisation would be confined to individual offices, but the trend in the 21st Century is to remain open plan. This is essentially where a large office space is predominantly set up with desks in an open layout, usually with partitioned individual offices around the sides for senior members of staff, meetings or training purposes.
The question is; why have we gone in this direction, and is this really the most effective working environment for a modern office working population?
The answer lies partly in changing business cultures and needs, but day-to-day benefits include the following.
- Improved communication – it’s much easier to ask a colleague a quick question when you are sitting nearby. Otherwise you would have to either go into their office or make an internal phone call which can be much more distracting. Being in the same office you are able to gauge much more accurately when it is a "good time" to speak to your colleague, so as to minimise the disturbance.
Of course, all of this might be irrelevant if you work in a different country to your colleague, as is increasingly common; but of course we have much more advanced technology for.
-
Overhearing – although seen as rude outside of work, overhearing the conversations of others is often encouraged in open plan offices. It allows everyone to keep themselves updated with relevant goings on without regular meetings, thus saving time. It can also allow a problem to be solved much more quickly if someone with a solution happens to hear a conversation discussing it.
-
Space saving – Space is often a concern, particularly in city centre locations, with rents going up all the time. Laying an office out in an open plan format can save a lot of space and thus money.
-
Improved morale – Humans are social animals and want to be able to interact with each other. Keeping them cooped up in a confined environment is unlikely to be inspirational for them. Being able to easily converse with colleagues partly fulfils the social aspect of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and improves the mood of employees.
-
Easier management – When a supervisor has easy access to all of their employees in one place, it makes for much more efficient meetings. This is because a small group can easily have an informal work discussion with distracting others or even leaving their desks.
We can see that the changing needs of companies has led to a changed attitude towards how we should work. An open plan environment is clearly a great option, particularly for any organisation for whom the majority of staff work in teams. It should be said however that there is still room for individual offices, particularly for strategic or director level employees. These people often do not need to regularly have informal discussions, depending on their role within the company.
The decision is down to the requirements of the individual organisation when all is said and done, but as you can see there are often some convincing arguments from a number of areas to suggest that it’s a good idea.
Optima Systems are an office partitioning expert, specialising in frameless glass doors, glass office partitions and glass walls.
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- Designing a Bedroom Around a Single Bed That Grows With Your Child
- The Perfect Guest Bed: Why a Three-Quarter Bed is a Host's Best-Kept Secret
- Your Bedroom, a Five-Star Retreat: How a King Bed Creates a Luxury Hotel Vibe
- How to Prepare Your Home for Summer Electrical Loads
- Understanding the Difference Between Civil and Residential Excavation
- Ultimate Guide to Buying Land in Tennessee: Stories, Steps, and Regional Insights
- “Sin and Celluloid: Pre-Code Hollywood and the Scandalous Films Before the Censors Arrived.”
- North by Northwest: The Movie That Made Danger Look Effortlessly Cool.
- “Beyond the Lens: How Women Directors, Producers, and Writers Are Reshaping Cinema.”
- KISS - Keep It Simple Sweetheart
- 🌿 Ginger: Nature’s Energizing Elixir for the Body and Mind.
- “Riding the Ponderosa: The Enduring Legacy of Bonanza.”
- 10 Benefits of Cycling for Kids’ Growth and Confidence
- 15 Social Media Habits That Actually Grow Your Audience
- What Great Corporate Photography Says About Your Brand
- How ASEAN Powers the World’s Supply Chain
- 🌿 Ginger: The Golden Root of Wellness and Vitality.
- “Beyond the Gavel: Cinema’s Most Compelling Courtroom Dramas.”
- Denzel Washington: Crafting a Legacy of Strength, Gravitas, and Change.
- Ginger: Nature’s Fiery Ally for Health and Vitality.
- The Data-Driven Dinner: How Hospitality Uses Analytics To Know You Better
- “Blood, Power, and Legacy: The Godfather Trilogy’s Triumphs and Tragedies.”
- The Healing Flame: Why Ginger Deserves Its Place Beside Turmeric.
- Visionaries Beyond Tomorrow: The Five Directors Who Reimagined Sci-Fi Cinema.
- The Timeless Power of Turmeric: Nature’s Golden Secret to Vitality
- New Port Richey Fl: Navy Vet found dead in Walk in Freezer.
- Golden Roots: How Turmeric Became the World’s Most Powerful Natural Healer.
- “Greta Gerwig and the Rise of Women Behind the Camera in Hollywood.”
- “The Crown of Cinema: From Citizen Kane to The Godfather.”
- The Miracle of Mother’s Milk: Unveiling the Lifelong Benefits of Breastfeeding.