Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2025
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Application of Design Aspects in Uniaxial Loading Machine Development
Published on: September 19, 2018
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Exploring alignments between design principles and work unit needs in activity-based flexible offices: a case study
Melina Forooraghi1, Annemarie Hultberg1, Ingibjörg H Jonsdottir1,2
1Institute of Stress Medicine, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Ergonomics
|March 25, 2025
Summary
Activity-based flexible offices (AFOs) negatively impacted employee perceptions of workplace design. Uniform AFO principles failed to support diverse work needs, highlighting the need for a balanced approach.
Area of Science:
- Organizational Psychology
- Workplace Design
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Activity-based flexible offices (AFOs) are designed to offer diverse workspaces catering to employee activities and needs.
- The study investigates employee perceptions of workplace design in AFOs within a Swedish public service organization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine employee perceptions of workplace design before and after relocating to Activity-based flexible offices (AFOs).
- To identify challenges associated with uniform AFO design principles across different work units.
Main Methods:
- Utilized pre- and post-occupancy surveys with 345 (T1) and 388 (T2) participants.
- Conducted post-occupancy interviews with 75 participants (T2).
- Applied explorative and descriptive data analysis.
Main Results:
- A negative trend in employee perceptions of workplace design was observed post-relocation.
- Predominantly open zones were unsuitable for tasks requiring concentration or confidentiality.
- Limited personalization options hindered creative tasks, and clean-desk policies impacted team cohesion.
Conclusions:
- Uniform application of AFO design principles presents significant challenges for diverse work units.
- A balanced approach, integrating customized and uniform design principles, is recommended to align office design with varied organizational needs.
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