Exploring alignments between design principles and work unit needs in activity-based flexible offices: a case study.

IF 2 3区工程技术 Q3 ENGINEERING, INDUSTRIAL

Ergonomics Pub Date : 2025-03-25 DOI:10.1080/00140139.2025.2475350

Melina Forooraghi, Annemarie Hultberg, Ingibjörg H Jonsdottir, Maral Babapour Chafi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Activity-based flexible offices (AFOs) offer employees a variety of workspaces based on their activities and needs. This study examines employees' perceptions of the workplace design across five work units in a public service organisation in Sweden, before and after relocation to AFOs. Data collection involved pre- and post-occupancy surveys (T1 = 345, T2 = 388) and interviews (T2 = 75). Explorative and descriptive data analysis was applied. The findings reveal a negative trend in perceptions of workplace design. The uniform application of design principles posed challenges. First, predominantly open zones did not support units with high concentration or confidential tasks. Second, limitations for personalisation did not fit units with creative tasks. Third, clean-desk policy introduced challenges in maintaining team cohesion and colocation did not improve within or between unit cooperations. The study suggests a balanced approach, combining customised and uniform principles to better align office design with diverse needs of different units within organisations.

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探索基于活动的灵活办公室中设计原则和工作单位需求之间的一致性：案例研究。

基于活动的灵活办公室（afo）根据员工的活动和需求为他们提供各种工作空间。本研究考察了瑞典一家公共服务组织的五个工作单位的员工在搬迁到afo之前和之后对工作场所设计的看法。数据收集包括入住前和入住后调查（T1 = 345, T2 = 388）和访谈（T2 = 75）。采用探索性和描述性数据分析。调查结果显示，人们对工作场所设计的看法呈消极趋势。设计原则的统一应用带来了挑战。首先，主要开放的区域不支持高度集中或机密任务的单位。其次，个性化的限制并不适合具有创造性任务的单位。第三，清洁办公桌政策在保持团队凝聚力方面带来了挑战，并且在单位内部或单位之间的合作并没有得到改善。该研究建议采用一种平衡的方法，将定制和统一原则结合起来，以更好地使办公室设计符合组织内不同部门的不同需求。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Ergonomics 工程技术-工程：工业

CiteScore

4.60

自引率

12.50%

发文量

147

审稿时长

6 months

期刊介绍： Ergonomics, also known as human factors, is the scientific discipline that seeks to understand and improve human interactions with products, equipment, environments and systems. Drawing upon human biology, psychology, engineering and design, Ergonomics aims to develop and apply knowledge and techniques to optimise system performance, whilst protecting the health, safety and well-being of individuals involved. The attention of ergonomics extends across work, leisure and other aspects of our daily lives. The journal Ergonomics is an international refereed publication, with a 60 year tradition of disseminating high quality research. Original submissions, both theoretical and applied, are invited from across the subject, including physical, cognitive, organisational and environmental ergonomics. Papers reporting the findings of research from cognate disciplines are also welcome, where these contribute to understanding equipment, tasks, jobs, systems and environments and the corresponding needs, abilities and limitations of people. All published research articles in this journal have undergone rigorous peer review, based on initial editor screening and anonymous refereeing by independent expert referees.