Activity Based Working

Activity based working (ABW) is a relatively new concept in the corporate world. One based on the premise that no employee 'owns' or has an assigned work station.

The workplace is designed keeping 'activity' in focus. There are individual workstations, small group workspaces, larger group workspaces, meeting rooms and social areas. Each morning the employee gets to pick where they're sitting based on the team they're with or the activity they are involved with for that time period, or maybe even just mood.

It's pretty radical. There was a phase when employees were encouraged to make their work stations as personalized as possible, with personal artifacts, family pictures and some even having their own plants. I know folks who even had pet fish on their tables. In that context this looks like a significant social and cultural shift. 

Guess as with any shift or change it will come with it's propagators and naysayers...and I guess also resistances from the likes of those who resist change, or who have fetishes for 'my space' (like me :). 

But it's interesting to see the positives and the shifts. So much flexibility. Lesser identification with 'mine' while still retaining identification 'with company', More level playing and egalitarian, increased engagement, more trust, more fun. For the company, if they can pull it off, it would be a huge saving in real estate, as metrics shows atleast 15% OOO ( out of office on leave or travel) on any given day.

And yes, needless to say this is also an offshoot of technology, laptops and phones enable this level of individualism and flexibility.

I read somewhere that maybe in fifty years (or less) children will ask "you actually went to a particular place to work?"

So the question really becomes: How ready are we to adapt? 

My introduction to ABW came from Kiran who is trying it out in his office. My first reaction was honestly a wee bit sceptical.... my question was 'what happens to need for 'my space' (my fetish see) . And then within the week I heard about it from Surekha whose company in New Zealand had adopted it across their offices, and she says she's totally enjoying it. 

Wonderful to see how design and innovation bring in changes.....this one with impact and influence at the physical, emotional and psychological levels.....a cultural shift so to say.