Activity Based Working: the alternative to the open vs closed offices debate?

The benefits of ABW include allowing people to perform at their best, which increases productivity and business efficiency. It gives employees a sense of freedom, empowerment, and trust, and it increases interactions and team collaboration. However, there are disadvantages, such as a sense of loss for employees who no longer have a personal space. Frequent desk relocations can also waste time, and some employees may not respond well to the change.

What are the benefits of ABW?

• It allows people to perform at their best, increasing productivity and business efficiency by working in the most suitable space
• It gives employees a sense of freedom, empowerment and trust
• It increases interactions and team collaboration
• Flexibility in where and how employees choose to work
• Reduction in paper usage
• Decrease in real estate costs by reducing the amount of desks and floor space needed
• Increase in activity and chance meetings

What are the disadvantages of ABW?

• Sense of loss: employees no longer have a space that feels like their own which they can personalise
• Feeling exposed
• Frequent desk relocations can waste time
• Certain employees, often from older generations used to a more traditional work environment, may not respond well

What spaces should be created?

This highly depends on the industry you work in, your company culture and the employees' needs. Careful consideration should be given when implementing ABW to ensure it meets your business strategy. A mix of collaborative spaces with team desks, quiet concentration rooms, phone booths and meeting rooms are the most common spaces seen in ABW. Other ideas range from leisure areas featuring table tennis and pool tables, media rooms and café style or lounge spaces encouraging impromptu and informal meetings, but there is really no limit to what you can do.

A few things to take into considerations before implementing Activity Based working

• It is essential to have the right technology to support this model, including a fast and secure Wi-Fi connection so that staff can access the internet from anywhere at any time, a fully mobile telephone system.
• You will need to consider transitioning to a paperless office
• The initial cost of implementing ABW incurred by the office redesign and new furniture purchase

Is ABW for you?

Each business is unique and the reason for adopting ABW should be carefully considered. Activity Based Working presents a lot of advantages and could be the ultimate solution to providing the perfect workspace. Look at whether your current model is working, weigh up the benefits and disadvantages of Activity Based Working to help you decide whether it is the right solution for you. The truth is that most people resist change, it is therefore important to implement this new strategy in stages and to explain the reasons behind ABW and its benefits to the employees to facilitate the transition into a vastly different style.