Why Open Floor Plans May Be Hurting Your Business – And What to Do Instead

Open office plan and activity-based workplace designs may look similar but fundamentally different. Overlooking these differences could negatively impact your business. Here’s why:

At first glance, open floor plan and activity-based workplace designs may appear similar, but they differ significantly in their design goals and impact on employee productivity and well-being.

Some facts about Open Floor Plan:

• The open office plan is defined by large open spaces with minimal physical barriers between desks and workstations.
• The open floor plan was a departure from the traditional office design popular in the early 1900s, characterized by closed-off private offices and cubicles.
• Open floor plan designs were intended to increase communication and information flow, resulting in higher levels of productivity and creativity.
• The open floor plan was also believed to be cost-effective, allowing more employees to work in a smaller space, which appealed to businesses looking to reduce costs and make better use of their real estate.

Despite its perceived benefits, research has shown that the open floor plan may not be as effective as initially thought.  Numerous studies have revealed that this design can cause reduced productivity and increased distractions due to a lack of privacy and constant noise and interruptions. This has led to a growing interest in alternative workplace designs, such as the Activity-Based Workplace (ABW), which aim to balance collaboration and individual focus better.

Here enters ABW..

• The ABW design approach offers various spaces for specific tasks, such as private meeting rooms, quiet spaces for focused work, and collaboration spaces for group work.
• Activity-based workplace (ABW) designs provide a flexible approach to office design, allowing employees to move around and choose the best space for their tasks.

Studies have shown that ABW designs contribute to increased employee satisfaction, collaboration, and productivity. Furthermore, ABW designs allow for greater flexibility in the face of the ongoing changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. With many companies adopting remote work and hybrid work models, ABW designs can provide a seamless transition between in-office and remote work, ensuring employees have the tools and spaces needed to be productive.

ABW in action

One example of an Activity Based Workplace is the new workplace of b_labs. We completed the functional layout in a way that offers the employees a variety of spaces to choose from according to the task at hand.  For solo tasks, employees can choose hot desks at the main workspace for routine tasks or take a seat at the quiet zone or the isolation booth for focused tasks.  For collaborative tasks, employees can choose from various meeting rooms ranging from 1-on-1 meeting rooms to large meeting rooms. In addition, employees get the chance to change their posture throughout the day, moving from formal work setting to loose furniture at the work lounge.