The Essential Guide to Activity-Based Working

What is activity-based working?

Activity-based working (ABW) is a workplace strategy emphasising flexibility, choice, and collaboration. The idea behind activity-based working is to create a work environment that supports the way people work rather than forcing them to adapt to a specific layout.

Erik Veldhoen created the term activity-based working in his book “The Demise of the Office” in 1994. Activity-based working has become increasingly popular in recent years and aims to enhance employee productivity, creativity, well-being, collaboration and communication, as employees are encouraged to move around the office and interact with colleagues from different teams and departments.

What is an activity-based office, and how does it differ from a traditional office?

The key difference between an activity-based and traditional office is that the ABW office is designed to support different work styles: focused work, collaborative work, informal meetings, and social interactions, in contrast to a traditional office, which typically has a fixed layout with assigned desks or cubicles for each employee. The workspace is organised around “activity zones,” such as private rooms for focused work, collaboration areas for team projects, and informal breakout areas for socialising.

Employees are not assigned to specific desks or offices in an activity-based office. Instead, they can choose where to work based on their work requirements and preferences. This provides greater flexibility and encourages employees to move around the office, increasing collaboration, creativity, and productivity.

Benefits of Activity-based working

ABW can offer several benefits, one of the most exciting being cost reduction. By adopting ABW, a business can reduce its costs; this is down to the optimisation of space associated with ABW. There are a lot of technology integrations associated with ABW, many of which can promote a significant reduction in energy consumption. So, not only is your business saving money, it is also more sustainable.

Above all, ABW can improve employee well-being by providing employees with various workspace options that suit their work style and preferences. This can enhance job satisfaction, reduce stress, and promote better health outcomes.

Elements of an ABW office

During her speech at the 8th FUTURE Workplace Summit, Karina Gram, the Head of Global Workplace Strategy at Vestas Wind Systems, presented their successful strategy for implementing activity-based working. She divided the necessary zones into six categories, emphasising the importance of each one for success:

Work: This area is meant for daily tasks, informal conversations, and coordination. The work desk is equipped with a monitor and a keyboard, and employees can book based on their needs and availability.

Teams: Is used for online meetings, ongoing collaborations, and teamwork. The equipment in this area is more focused on online meetings and, therefore, has bigger screens, docking stations, webcams, adjustable desks and chairs. The area is also equipped with acoustic sound-absorbing material.

Meet: This zone is dedicated to onsite and hybrid meetings. They used meeting rooms to ensure privacy.

Focus: This area is meant for undistracted time to focus on your task at hand. It is a silent area with softer furniture or a desk and shows that you do not want to be disturbed.

Project: This zone is for onsite and hybrid collaboration. Often placed away from the work and focus area as this can be a loud area.

Café: This can be used for breaks, social activities, informal chats, and working between meetings. This area is also known as a breakout area.

Tips for creating an effective ABW office

Flexibility, collaboration, and employee well-being should be at the core of any productive ABW workspace. Make sure to prioritise clear signage and wayfinding systems, adequate storage and charging stations, and comfortable seating. Consider incorporating sound systems or biophilic design elements to enhance well-being and productivity.

Design a flexible layout that can adjust to changing needs, includes designated zones, and integrates simple technology solutions to streamline operations. Remember to regularly gather feedback and adapt the office design and operations to ensure the ABW environment supports employees’ work and meets their needs. By prioritising these elements, companies can create an effective and engaging ABW office that supports productivity, collaboration, and well-being.