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Activity Based Working: designing a modern office

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Every day throughout the world new offices are built and existing offices are refreshed. In the process organisations are increasingly investing in Flex working. This means that workplaces are shared by two or more employees. Activity Based Working (ABW) goes one step further in this respect.

Goodman Activity based working

But what exactly does Activity Based Working comprise? And what advantages can this office concept have for your organisation? Read about it in this article.

Activity Based Working

Activity Based Working is a modern office concept whereby nobody has their own workplace any more. Flexibility, transparency, working together, and efficiency are at the heart of this principle. Activity Based Working has the future as its focus and is characterised by the use of the latest mobile and communication technology. Organisations design their office space in such a way that the activities to be carried out receive optimum support. This means that they create a variety of office space which is equipped in a way that most suits the activities. For example, office space with a number of desks, silent areas for concentration, areas for brainstorming, telephone areas, lounges and meeting rooms. These areas are open to everyone, making the hierarchy almost invisible.

Furthermore employees gain more freedom; they determine how, when and where they wish to work. The equipment within the offices is fully integrated with the equipment of mobile users. This makes working together at a distance very simple.

Flex working versus Activity Based Working

But what is the difference then between Activity Based Working and Flex working? The aim of Flex working is the reduction of office space, whilst Activity Based Working has the improvement of performance and productivity as its objective. Organisations making use of activity based working stimulate employees to move between various working environments and to work together with a variety of other employees. This has the effect of providing new inspiration for employees. In this way Activity Based Working goes a step further than Flex working.

Why Activity Based Working?

Activity Based Working brings with it the following advantages:

  • Higher productivity
  • A more active approach to work (less sedentary)
  • Increased freedom and flexibility
  • Easier exchange of ideas
  • Better cooperation (also at a distance)
  • Completely mobile environment
  • Cost savings due to less workplaces

Solutions for Activity Based Working

As an organisation you can choose from a variety of solutions in order to roll out Activity Based Working. Goodman Belgium recently designed and equipped its offices in accordance with the ABW-principle. Goodman Belgium, which is part of the Goodman Group, is a worldwide expert in the management and development of warehousing and office space. In its new offices Goodman makes use of a number of useful ABW solutions that may also be of interest to you:

Videoconferencing

Working together seamlessly with colleagues in other countries. A meeting can take place in just a few minutes between employees spread throughout the world.
Integration of apparatus, tools and software
There is complete integration between the equipment within the office and the equipment for mobile users. For example, Goodman integrated Microsoft Lync and Outlook (amongst other things) with each other.

Room Booking facilities

The ‘Room Booking system’ makes it possible for employees of Goodman to see at a glance which offices are still free. On the one hand this enables them to book a meeting room via their computer, smart phone, or tablet, because the system is linked to Outlook. On the other hand they can book an empty meeting room by using a touchscreen in the room.

Of course there are a lot more solutions to talk about, which fall within the scope of Activity Based Working. Hopefully after reading this article you will have gained a better idea of what this office space concept represents.

Would you like to know more about how Activity Based Working was rolled out within Goodman?