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Workspace preferences and non-preferences in Activity-based Flexible Offices: Two case studies
Maral Babapour Chafi1, Mette Harder2, Christina Bodin Danielsson3
1Division Design & Human Factors, Chalmers University of Technology, Hörsalsvägen 5-7, SE-412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Applied Ergonomics
|November 29, 2019
Summary
Employees prefer desirable and functional workspaces in Activity-based Flexible Offices (AFOs). Understanding these preferences is key to improving AFO design and reducing workstation selection stress.
Area of Science:
- Workplace design
- Organizational psychology
- Human-computer interaction
Background:
- Activity-based Flexible Offices (AFOs) are emerging workspace innovations.
- Existing research on AFOs primarily focuses on satisfaction and work support, neglecting employee preferences.
- There is a gap in understanding how employees choose workstations within AFOs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify employee workspace preferences and non-preferences in AFOs.
- To determine if workstation choices align with employee activities and preferences.
- To inform the design of more effective AFOs.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 27 semi-structured interviews with employees in two Swedish municipalities.
- Analyzed architectural drawings with annotations to understand workspace usage.
- Qualitative data analysis to identify patterns in preferences and choices.
Main Results:
- Employees preferred workstations that were both desirable and functional.
- Employees actively avoided undesirable workstations.
- Preferences were influenced by functional, social, emotional, symbolic, and physical aspects of workspaces.
Conclusions:
- Workspace preferences in AFOs are multifaceted, encompassing more than just functionality.
- Employee choices are driven by a combination of factors including emotional and symbolic aspects.
- This research offers a framework for improving AFO design to better meet employee needs and reduce stress.
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