There are two ways you can organise your office, partitioned and open. An open office means that all workers are in the same open space together. Alternatively, in a office partitioning system, each employee is given a separate office or the room is divided up into sections so each person has their own space and privacy. Compared to open room, the partitioned system may seem expensive to set up, but does office partitioning improve productivity?
By subdividing an office, workers can be more expressive in their own space. By doing this workers can design their own space, making them feel more comfortable in their work environment. A comfortable worker is happy; a happy worker is more productive.
One argument is that having office partitioning limits communication amongst workers. This is not necessarily true, as it has been observed that most of the communication that takes in open office plans is not beneficial to the company. Issue that have nothing to do with work are often disceussed in detaiuls which results in company time being wasted. Office partitioning ensures that only useful communication takes place hence productivity.
There can be a lack of trust and a feeling of being watch when in an open office setting. Employees may feel they have more freedom to explore their work without being observed in an office partitioning system. This will result in an employee presenting their best work after it has been properly tested of proof read. Open office plans can be the cause of disorganisation. One worker could be devising a strategy whilst another is making marketing calls. Naturally, the person on phone will disrupt all the other workers in the room. Office equipment can also cause problems if it used communally, it can become damaged. Problems such as these can be overcome and supplies monitored when an office partitioning system is out in place.
If there is a disease outbreak in an open office plan, it will easily spread to all employees. Airborne afflictions such as colds or swine flu are more easily spread in an open office environment. Sick workers are less productive. However, before an office is partitioned, it is important to consider the opinion of an expert in office partitioning and arrangement. Also consult your employees. Furthermore, find a way to bring out the best of both office systems.
