Activity-Based Flexible Office Versus Combi-Plan Office: Comparing Perceptions and Interactions between Two Office Work Environments

Zahra Zamani (EwingCole)

Strategic management requires credible data for decision making on office design. However, there is a lack of empirical research on the effect of office physical environment parameters on employee needs and job outcomes. Thus, this study compared and identified design features between an Activity-Based Flexible (AFO) and a Combi-Plan Office (CPO) within the same organization. The AFO incorporated unassigned partition-less workstations and various open and enclosed alternative workspaces (AWS). The CPO included private offices, assigned workstations with 42”-high partitions, and AWS. The study incorporated observations and space syntax to evaluate pattern of use and interactions in relation to location attributes. Additionally, surveys evaluated perceptions of satisfaction, productivity, distraction, communication, and collaboration in both offices.

Findings indicated that CPO open-area users were less distracted from sounds and passersby than AFO users. However, AFO users perceived their workspace as more relaxing and supportive of speech privacy and complex problem-solving than CPO users. Open-space with partitions CPO users were more satisfied than AFO users during concentrated work and team communication. Nevertheless, AFO users rated speech privacy and availability of meeting spaces higher.

Observational findings indicated that in the AFO there was significantly more use of team rooms, unassigned workstations, and open AWS. AFO workstation interactions were 6% higher than in the CPO. In contrast to the CPO, interactions in AFO workstations happened in less visible but more accessible spaces.

The findings imply that AFO openness contributes to its higher support for of restorative experiences and interaction opportunities. We concluded that a variety of workplace settings and privacy levels, zoned to minimize distractions, allows users to select work settings appropriate to the type of work being performed. Providing flexible partition heights, smaller group arrangements of workstations, and more unassigned meeting rooms for enhancing privacy and reducing unwanted distractions are suggested design implications.