It used to be that a ping-pong table or Friday happy hour could attract talented people looking for a different kind of vibe at work. Today, the expectations are much higher. Creating a great employee experience requires a deep understanding of what people need and how the workplace can best support them. A new study by Harvard Business School adds to a growing body of research indicating people are seeking workplaces that reflect their changing needs. There is no one size fits all approach to workplace design.
The most recent body of research (published July 2018) found when people moved from cubicles to an open office without any boundaries face-to-face collaboration plummeted. Instead of talking to each other, people used email and instant messaging more frequently. The results of the study have fueled headlines declaring open offices a “collaboration killer” and “the dumbest management fad of all time.” So, what now? Should everyone return to working in private offices?
OPEN PLAN RESEARCH
A closer look at the study reveals researchers tracked people as they moved from assigned cubicles to assigned seats in an open plan. The new environment removed all elements of privacy. Researchers used wearable technology to observe how people interacted. The new space was a monotonous effort to bring people together. But, instead of promoting collaboration, this version of the open plan did the exact opposite. Face-to-face interaction dropped 70 percent.
In an interview after his study was published, associate professor Ethan Bernstein drew some conclusions from his results. He suggested organizations should consider “hybrid or flexible spaces” within the open plan among other things and, he indicated, successful workplaces should optimize for the kinds of work people are doing.
As it reported on the study, Fast Company wrote, “Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, as is traditional in open plan design, work environments should provide various options that support employees working effectively.” The idea that people need a diverse range of spaces to meet their changing needs throughout the work day is one Steelcase researchers and designers have been championing for years. It’s no secret that people often decry their open offices — frustrated by a lack of spaces to choose from and control over where they get their work done. But, it doesn’t have to be that way.