Rücker M, Eismann T, Meinel M, Söllner A, Voigt KI (2022)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2022
DOI: 10.1108/JCRE-11-2021-0038
PurposeThe aim of this study is to investigate whether activity-based workspaces (ABWs) are able to solve the privacy-communication trade-off known from fixed-desk offices. In fixed-desk offices, employees work in private or open-plan offices (or in combi-offices) with fixed workstations, which support either privacy or communication, respectively. However, both dimensions are essential to effective employee performance, which creates the dilemma known as the privacy-communication trade-off. In activity-based workspaces, flexible workstations and the availability of different spaces may solve this dilemma, but clear empirical evidence on the matter is unavailable. Design/methodology/approachTo address this knowledge gap, the authors surveyed knowledge workers (N = 363) at a medium-sized German company at three time points (T1-T3) over a one-year period during the company's move from a fixed-desk combi-office (a combination of private and open-plan offices with fixed workplaces) to an ABW. Using a quantitative survey, the authors evaluated the employees' perceived privacy and perceived communication in the old (T1) and the new work environments (T2 and T3). FindingsThe longitudinal study revealed a significant increase in employees' perceived privacy and perceived communication in the ABW. These increases remained stable in the long term, which implies that ABWs have a lasting positive impact on employees. Originality/valueAs the privacy and communication dimensions were previously considered mutually exclusive in a single workplace, the results confirm that ABWs can balance privacy and communication, providing optimal conditions for enhanced employee performance.
APA:
Rücker, M., Eismann, T., Meinel, M., Söllner, A., & Voigt, K.-I. (2022). Balancing privacy and communication in activity-based workspaces: a longitudinal study. Journal of Corporate Real Estate. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JCRE-11-2021-0038
MLA:
Rücker, Marc, et al. "Balancing privacy and communication in activity-based workspaces: a longitudinal study." Journal of Corporate Real Estate (2022).
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