Blogs and Articles from Third Way Forum Membrs
Dec 1, 2022
Discussion#1 What would be the most effective office layout in the remote working era to improve engagement and productivity?
Blogs from The Third Way Working Group
- Many Japanese companies still have the traditional open office layout based on the hierarchy of the organization and its power structure. As a result, many people feel remined of their place and they can not be proactive.
- Also, due to the flat open office without any walls or partitions, people are completely exposed to auditory and visual distractions.
- There is no privacy and when you are scolded by the boss, you are scolded in public in front of everybody. No wonder many Japanese people are risk-averse and don’t want to challenge new things.
- In such an open office, you feel an enormous amount of peer pressure. It is very difficult to go home early or take a vacation when everybody else is working late.
- However, there are still some Japanese people who prefer such a traditional open office to a modern work station cubicle. They argue that the traditional office provides more buzz and energy and they feel alive and connected with their colleagues. They feel a great sense of belonging to a group of people they see everybody in the office.
- In the West, the popular office layout is more of a group of work station cubicles. They still hear some noise from other people but can focus better with less distractions. However, it is still less productive than having one’s private office. I (Satoshi Ishizaka) also experienced increased productivity when I was given my private office in my previous corporate career.
- In the open office, both in the traditional layout and in work station cubicles, it is difficult for people to have important conversations. So meeting rooms are always all fully booked at those companies.
- Some companies have modern meeting space or alternative collaboration space in a cafeteria style or restaurant booth style. Although it may be nice for employees to use this kind of space for casual conversations, they still have a seat in an open office when they work and also when they talk about some important things, they often book a proper meeting room.
- It is very expensive for companies to arrange an open work floor, whether it’s a traditional layout or cubicles, and to arrange many meeting rooms as well as some open collaboration space. Especially in today’s remote working era, it doesn’t make sense to spend money on so much physical spaces in the office.
- Provided the majority of employees do not come to the office every day but several days a week, we should probably make some office arrangements like below.
・ Sufficient # of adequately spacious private work stations with high walls (almost like semi offices), used in a hot desk style. You can use it if it’s vacant.
・ Decent sized locker rooms for every employee to store company stuff
・ A few meeting rooms and no more big open space
- The work station should be large enough with some extra chairs so that people can get together and can have meetings. Only a large meeting and a very confidential meeting should be held in a meeting room. Also, they can drink coffee and mingle in each work station. The high walls of each work station should prevent certain amount of noise.
- Next week, we will explore how Japanese companies can move from their traditional open office layout to a more modern and effective office layout.
- Also, due to the flat open office without any walls or partitions, people are completely exposed to auditory and visual distractions.
- There is no privacy and when you are scolded by the boss, you are scolded in public in front of everybody. No wonder many Japanese people are risk-averse and don’t want to challenge new things.
- In such an open office, you feel an enormous amount of peer pressure. It is very difficult to go home early or take a vacation when everybody else is working late.
- However, there are still some Japanese people who prefer such a traditional open office to a modern work station cubicle. They argue that the traditional office provides more buzz and energy and they feel alive and connected with their colleagues. They feel a great sense of belonging to a group of people they see everybody in the office.
- In the West, the popular office layout is more of a group of work station cubicles. They still hear some noise from other people but can focus better with less distractions. However, it is still less productive than having one’s private office. I (Satoshi Ishizaka) also experienced increased productivity when I was given my private office in my previous corporate career.
- In the open office, both in the traditional layout and in work station cubicles, it is difficult for people to have important conversations. So meeting rooms are always all fully booked at those companies.
- Some companies have modern meeting space or alternative collaboration space in a cafeteria style or restaurant booth style. Although it may be nice for employees to use this kind of space for casual conversations, they still have a seat in an open office when they work and also when they talk about some important things, they often book a proper meeting room.
- It is very expensive for companies to arrange an open work floor, whether it’s a traditional layout or cubicles, and to arrange many meeting rooms as well as some open collaboration space. Especially in today’s remote working era, it doesn’t make sense to spend money on so much physical spaces in the office.
- Provided the majority of employees do not come to the office every day but several days a week, we should probably make some office arrangements like below.
・ Sufficient # of adequately spacious private work stations with high walls (almost like semi offices), used in a hot desk style. You can use it if it’s vacant.
・ Decent sized locker rooms for every employee to store company stuff
・ A few meeting rooms and no more big open space
- The work station should be large enough with some extra chairs so that people can get together and can have meetings. Only a large meeting and a very confidential meeting should be held in a meeting room. Also, they can drink coffee and mingle in each work station. The high walls of each work station should prevent certain amount of noise.
- Next week, we will explore how Japanese companies can move from their traditional open office layout to a more modern and effective office layout.
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