According to legend, open jobs were invented by Potemkin. The statesman was dissatisfied with the laziness of the serfs, and therefore gave a decree on the special placement of outbuildings. They were erected in such a way that the manager could observe the work of each serf. However, open space gained wide popularity only in the middle of the 20th century in America. In the 21st century, 90% of American workers work in this type of office. At the moment, open space is more and more common in Russia. Despite the demand, disputes about their expediency do not subside. Some believe that open workplaces provide a corporate spirit, others that they reduce the productivity of employees.
What is open space?
Open space - a special layout of the office space. All employees are accommodated in one large room. Workplaces are separated from each other by a thin partition. Tables are placed in rows. You can imagine what open space looks like by remembering American films with demonstrations of offices. Most often, they present exactly open space.
Advantages
What is the secret of the widespread use of open space? Their undoubted advantages:
- Space saving. A small space can accommodate many employees. No need to rent a large area. The economic benefit for the employer is undeniable.
- Quick communication between employees. All business issues are resolved promptly. In order to contact a colleague with a request or a question, you do not need to run around different offices. This is especially important when working with speed.
- Possibility of simple control over the work of employees. People who remain in a separate room tend to be distracted from work. The manager has virtually no way to track such unauthorized rest. The open office completely solves this problem. Employees do not have a chance to postpone work.
- Democracy. In this way, equality of all employees is ensured. The probability of the formation of closed communities is reduced.
- Preservation of the corporate spirit. The common space creates a single working spirit, which has a beneficial effect on motivation.
- Easy onboarding of new employees. Beginners can quickly. A person on the first day gets acquainted with his colleagues. If a beginner has problems, he can turn to experienced employees for all questions without unnecessary wandering around the organization.
- Ease of workflow. All documents are in one room, and therefore you do not have to look for them in all rooms.
First of all, open space is beneficial to the owner of the organization. The employer does not need to allocate a separate workplace for each employee. It is enough to rent one large room and divide it into zones using partitions. The cost of the latter will not hit the company's budget.
disadvantages
Open space has many disadvantages:
- Increased noise level. Several dozen workers in one room is constant noise. Phone calls, conversations of employees, noise from office equipment - all this can literally drive you crazy. It is extremely difficult for an employee to concentrate in such a stressful environment.
- constant stress. Lack of personal space, crampedness and noise are all factors that provoke stress and irritability. Of course, this negatively affects performance.
- The risk of theft. All personal belongings of employees (phones, handbags) are on public display. This can cause employees to fear that they will not count their property.
- Probability of conflicts. One person prefers to sit with an open window, the other is cold. Such trifles cause conflicts between colleagues, create a tense atmosphere.
- Rapid spread of infectious diseases. All bacteria, infections and viruses are quickly transmitted from employee to employee. According to studies, people are more likely to get sick in open space.
The employer wins in savings on rent, but loses in the productivity of his employees.
What do the employees themselves say?
Open space has been operating for a long time, and therefore a lot of research has already appeared regarding working in them. Consider the results of some:
- 56% of employees say they lack personal space.
- 55% of employees do not like the temperature in the room.
- 60% is missing silence.
Some studies prove that open space increases the stress level of employees and provokes conflicts. Employees working in open office space are diagnosed with high blood pressure. In addition, there is a high turnover of staff in such offices.
How to increase the productivity of employees in open space?
The leader can level the shortcomings of open space, using the following recommendations:
- Diverse workspace. It is not recommended to standardize workplaces, because each employee has his own individual needs. Some places need to be well isolated, small partitions are placed between other tables. The employee can choose the place that best suits his needs.
- Proper placement of common areas. Jobs alone will not be enough to solve everyday problems. It is also required to install a large table for joint discussions, provide a rest room, a dining area. All these rooms should be in close proximity to the main workspace.
- No high barriers. It seems that installing high partitions will solve the issue of personal space. However, this is an erroneous opinion. Employees working behind "high walls" will feel like they are alone in the room. This will increase the noise level. Workers in such conditions do not keep silence, they talk loudly.
- Approval of rules of conduct. Rules may include a ban on loud conversations, music. Employees should be encouraged to use internal chat more frequently. You can set a special signal that the employee does not need to be disturbed at the moment.
- More plants. It has been proven that living vegetation in the workplace reduces stress levels, increases productivity and focus on work tasks, and creates a favorable atmosphere.
- Placement of workplaces of managers in a common space. As a rule, managers are located in a separate office. However, this is not quite the right policy. Firstly, the manager will not be able to fully control the work of his employees, and secondly, he will be cut off from the team, will not be able to timely identify the weaknesses of the workflow.
The manager should be interested in the truthful opinion of his employees in order to innovate in accordance with the real needs of the team.
Increasing comfort in the common space is not only the task of the manager, but also of the employees. Employees can use the following guidelines:
- Each person can arrange a comfortable personal space. To do this, you can get headphones, place photos, your favorite decorative trinkets on your table.
- It is not recommended to eat at the workplace, as well as to use perfume with a pungent odor. A mixture of aromas can cause discomfort to roommates.
- Even if the leader has not given special orders, you must follow the general rules of courtesy: speak more quietly, reduce the sound of the phone.
The joint efforts of the owner of the organization and employees will help to make even open space comfortable for work.
H. Owen is considered the creator of the technology.
The basis of the technology is very simple and clear - there are 4 rules.
1. Everyone who is here and now is the right people.
2. Everything that will happen is what had to happen.
3. Any start time is the right time.
4. The process ends itself.
And there is one important law: If you suddenly realize that a situation has developed around you in which you are experiencing difficulty, and you do not see the opportunity to learn something or teach others, then you can decide to change the situation, for example, move to a neighboring group.
Purpose: Organization of a self-organizing process of the group, which is aimed at finding a solution to a specific problem of a functional unit or company as a whole.
Used in situations where:
It is urgent to find a solution to the problem;
- the issue is complex and requires a lot of resources to solve it;
- a global business problem has matured in the company, in the resolution of which all employees are interested;
- there are significant status and age differences in the team;
- when a large group of employees needs to answer many private questions or find solutions to problems within the same topic.
Members:
Sponsor - the one to whom the result of the discussion is important, sets the topic.
Facilitator - coordinates the work of the groups, starts and ends the discussion process. Participants are all those who are interested in the discussion.
Process:
An important advantage of the "Open Space" technology is the collection of a large number of opinions on a given topic in a short period of time.
In addition, team members develop a sense of belonging to the process and cohesion.
The central point is the formulation of the topic, which should sound bright and interesting, inspire the participants.
1. Collaboration begins with getting to know each other. Next, the topic is announced.
2. Creation of a free atmosphere of creativity;
3. The work of self-organized groups; participants independently allocate time, allocate stages of work. Group members may work in groups of five, in pairs, others may consist of ten or more people. Some participants, as a rule, move from one group to another.
4. Each group itself sums up, gives recommendations for solving the problem and presents them to everyone else on the “news board”;
5. Planning and goal setting;
6. Completion, exchange of experience and impressions.
Open space is a fruitful and effective interaction, strengthening and improving what already exists in the company: planning and action, development and improvement, taking responsibility for decisions, participation and implementation of plans.
They say that the inventor of the first open space was a prince Potemkin. Theft and chronic shirk from work on the part of the serfs led the brightest to the idea of the need for constant monitoring.
Grigory Alexandrovich placed outbuildings in his barnyard so that they were all visible to the manager. The Potemkin layout was later very useful, but not at all for seating clerks, but for constructing prison premises. Office employees became inhabitants of open spaces only in the middle of the 20th century. Since then, there have been disputes about what is more - pluses or minuses - for working in open space offices.Advantages of openness
The first and main argument in favor of open spaces belongs to the authorities. Exactly ease of control above employees makes open space so attractive to management. In such an office, it will not be possible to hack with impunity. Colleagues and the boss can see what exactly you are doing on your computer - making a report or mastering a new solitaire game.
The second advantage of densely populated offices is ease of communication between employees. Willy-nilly, you will have to communicate with a colleague if you divide the space of one large table in half. In addition, in open space offices, all employees, as a rule, are well acquainted with each other, while in office seating, many do not know who works behind the next wall, especially if we are talking about employees not of yours, but of an adjacent department. Meanwhile, the lack of communication is one of the biggest obstacles to creating a friendly team, when one department does not really know what the other is doing and how busy the employees are, conflicts are inevitable.
No gossip. Washing the bones of one of the employees when he is sitting two meters from you and perfectly hears all the conversations is quite difficult. Of course, in order to gossip from the heart, you can go out, but still open space creates obstacles to slander.
Eye contact. You can see how busy your colleagues or superiors are, and you can always choose a convenient moment to ask them or just discuss current problems.
noisy place
The main disadvantage of working in open space is the constant noise. It is foolish to count on silence if 25 even very polite and tactful people have gathered in one room. Meanwhile, the loud voices of colleagues are the main office irritant. Dutch scientists conducted a study in which they found that 32% of office workers literally lose their temper if nearby colleagues speak too loudly. Phone calls, inevitable in any office, also do not add to the tranquility of the situation. They annoy 30% of employees.
domestic conflicts
The party of fresh air lovers will certainly fight for the right to open the window with a group of opponents of drafts. The remote control of the air conditioner can become a bone of contention, as well as pens, staplers and pencils that always disappear from the tables.
Ease of spread of infections. One sneezing employee by lunchtime will “reward” everyone sitting in the office with his bacilli.Complete lack of personal space. It's not even about transparent partitions or the complete absence of them. It's a matter of psychological discomfort. Like it or not, we spend most of our lives at work, so from time to time we have to be distracted by personal conversations on the phone. As a rule, the inhabitants of open space offices are aware of all the personal affairs of each other, up to the lunch menu of colleagues and the school grades of the boss's children. Such excessive awareness is unlikely to please anyone.
Create an environment
It is unlikely that it will be possible to completely get rid of the shortcomings of open space, but you can still try to make the environment around you more comfortable.
Buy headphones. Quiet music in your ears will drown out the noise and help you focus on your work. If you can't work to music, replace the melody with the sounds of rain, the sea, or just use your headphones as earplugs.
By the way, noise is not always harmful. Psychologists from the USA conducted an interesting study.
Volunteers were asked to solve puzzles in silence, in a room with moderate noise levels, and in a very noisy room. It turned out that not too loud sounds (up to 50 dB, which corresponds to a calm conversation) help to cope with creative tasks faster and better.
Don't eat at work. The smells of food and champing can bring your neighbors to white heat.
Try to speak more quietly and set your mobile phone to vibrate, or at least mute its sound. And of course, try not to leave your phone on the table when you go to lunch. Even the most pleasant-looking ringtones are not liked by everyone.
Personal opinion
Anastasia Osipova:
I have never worked in an open space environment. Although being on stage, with a large crowd of people, can be equated with such work. I have been to this type of office several times.
It seems to me that working in them is a matter of habit. But personally, I would not be very comfortable working in such conditions. Still, a person should have some kind of personal space.
Open space (or open space) is a modern organization of offices. A huge room where someone is constantly talking on the phone, colleagues discuss work issues, print documents. All this resembles a buzzing beehive. A similar structure is gradually gaining popularity - many companies have already switched to open space. Several dozen people can be in such an office, there are no separate rooms, blank walls or even partitions. But not all employees prefer such a place of work. Some are happy and feel fine in such an atmosphere. Others compare the office with a communal apartment, dream of a separate office. But not always the last is given the right to choose. If you do not approve of open space, but are forced to work in such conditions, then our rules will come in handy. They are suitable not only for employees, but also for bosses. We will help you make your work in such an office as productive as possible.
How to work in an open space office
One of the reasons for the growing popularity of open offices is their cost-effectiveness. Agree that private offices will cost more than open space. Another plus is the quick resolution of individual issues. In open space, it is much easier to find the right colleague, even if he has moved away from his seat. Also, among the advantages of such offices, a democratic atmosphere is distinguished. If there are no office boundaries, then the psychological barriers between people disappear. Employees interact better, come to the rescue, communicate more.
But there are downsides to being barrier-free. For example, the lack of privacy. All conversations can be heard. Lack of personal space is a serious disadvantage. Moreover, the workplace must comply with strict regulations. Researchers have deduced a pattern that open space offices are less conducive to work productivity. The reason for this is the constant noise, stress, distractions.
You can cope with the specifics of working in open offices with the help of certain secrets:
- Rules. In a small open space office where employees have been working together for a long time, there are special rules that make the existence of colleagues more convenient and comfortable. These rules can be created collectively, taking into account all preferences and wishes. New people can be told all the rules orally, so that they can more easily join the team. But a large open-space office with a high staff turnover, according to the experts of the portal http://rabota.ua/, should have its own set of rules. Usually the leader does this, fixes everything on paper. Such a code will describe, for example, what is allowed to be done in the workplace. A cup of tea or coffee is allowed, but a more hearty meal at the table is already taboo.
- Separation of premises. In addition to workplaces, open space should have specialized rooms, such as a kitchen. Here you can already have a bite to eat, warm up food, chat with colleagues during a break. A good office is also equipped with a separate room where the employee can sit in silence and focus on work matters. Another useful room is the entertainment room. Here you can put a table for ping-pong or air hockey. Some managers think that employees will be distracted from their duties in the presence of such a room, but this is not the case. Practice shows that employees are already busy with work, so they devote a minimum of time to entertainment. But such a room will allow you to be distracted at the right time, so that later you can get to work with fresh energy.
- Workplace. All tables in open space offices are similar to each other, but you can add individuality. Put up a photo of your loved ones or family, bring a cute trinket from home, get a houseplant. This will create a personal space. Naturally, if the rules of the company allow it. And yet, the workplace should always be in order.
- Communication with colleagues. Work in open space is an opportunity to quickly contact the right person. But do not shout to him, because it distracts other workers. Although communication over the Internet will also be strange, especially if your tables are located close to each other. All issues must be addressed personally. To optimize the work, it is worth collecting several questions at once and solving them en masse, instead of constantly running around the office. Although some issues require immediate resolution. Despite the openness of the room, you need to respect the personal space of the other person. Before approaching him, check if he has time to solve your problems.
- "Reception Hours". Any issue can be resolved quickly, this is the advantage of open space. But often this means that you are constantly distracted by extraneous problems, calls, documents, offers. To prevent this from happening, many employees organize "reception hours" for themselves - time that can be devoted to solving other people's problems. It can also be solved by the whole office by setting a special time for meetings. The rest of the working day should be devoted to individual work.
- Phone calls. A constantly ringing phone is the scourge of all open space offices. In order not to distract colleagues, to respect their work, you need not put too loud a melody on the call. Better set the vibration mode. Do not discuss personal matters on the phone, wait for a lunch break or go out into the hallway. Your colleagues are definitely not interested in your plans for the evening. Think about whether you want to let strangers into your personal life.
- Soundproofing. Many people use headphones or ear plugs in the office to protect themselves from extraneous noise. This is effective, but not always effective. It is possible to completely protect oneself from the outside world only in the most exceptional cases, otherwise it is contrary to office ethics. Often the noise of coffee machines is a distraction. A good solution was suggested by one trade organization. They have coffee breaks in the office twice a day. At this time, all employees are distracted from business to drink a cup of coffee, so the noise of the coffee machine does not bother anyone.
- Smells. Smell is just as distracting as noise. It is worth respecting your colleagues and not eating at the workplace. This also applies to perfumes or cosmetics. Too much perfume can be irritating, and in some people it causes allergies. For successful interaction with employees, it is worth abandoning strong-smelling products.
The traditional idea of an office as a room with a series of corridors and cabinets is being replaced by new concepts. So, a few years ago, companies were worried about how many employees can fit in the four walls of one room. Today, in many companies, a modern approach is noticeable: a single office space. This approach assumes that most of the company's premises are occupied by an area where employees work together. At the same time, areas for recreation, negotiations and a number of offices are separated.
Open space is
Open Space is: open space technology. Open space technology is successfully applied when an employee can move around during the day, choosing a place where it is possible not only to work at a computer, but also to talk with others, meet visitors, think in silence, etc.
In addition, successful companies in which people dream of working create zones with a relaxed atmosphere for employees, where they can switch to some kind of physical activity, be in the fresh air, etc. The open space technology is based on the principles of ergonomics, management philosophy, and corporate culture. “Only complex knowledge can be truly fruitful,” is the motto of leaders choosing open space.
What is an open space office
Transparency, permeability, the possibility of eye contact - these are the main characteristics open space. In the series, we constantly see how this space works. Everything is arranged in it so that employees feel the “pulse of the pulse” of their company, here and now. Even the authorities are there behind a glass wall.
In many modern companies, not only are there no individual offices for ordinary employees, there are not even partitions between them. There are many such companies where an individual workplace is not assigned to ordinary employees. And all this - open space.
To optimize the process, it is recommended to separate the working space of each employee with low (not higher than 150 cm) partitions. Such an ersatz of private space allows us to solve two problems. On the one hand, this is a psychological factor of comfort, which is important for a person, on the other hand, it is a measure that saves space.
Another feature of the open space office is "flexible" work areas. For example, the central common area is equipped with tables on wheels. This helps to change the organization of the space depending on the work being done - whether it's a group project, a workshop or brainstorming sessions.
Thus, it is an interactive space, well viewed from the inside. Ideally, it contributes to the productivity of the company and gives employees the opportunity to choose between comfortable communication and privacy. In the event of an unsuccessful decision, open space reduces productivity, forcing employees to look for another place to work. Construction company No. 1 knows what mistakes to avoid when organizing this type of office space and will fulfill it in accordance with the needs and wishes of the customer.
Who is open space office for?
This organization of space is best suited for companies where employees interact a lot, and their freedom of movement is encouraged. Open Space implies a certain corporate culture: if the space is convenient for work and contributes to it, and people have learned not to interfere with each other, then such an organization suits everyone. If the workers were simply seated in a large hall without asking their opinion and without ensuring silence, then labor productivity decreases. Specialists of the Construction Company No. 1 have a professional approach to this issue and will immediately tell you whether it is suitable for your organization open space office.
Another point: open space this place is not intended for a large flow of visitors. After all, we are now talking about the place of work, and not about the space for meetings. This type of space organization is intended for companies where there is a pass regime.
And further: open space suits employees of a company where horizontal ties are strong, where teams with variable composition are formed and where a democratic leadership style is practiced. It is ideal for companies that are mainly engaged in the implementation of specific projects. Indeed, in this case, all employees are in full view of each other, solve problems together and outline their boundaries only when necessary.
Separately, it is worth mentioning that fast-growing companies are chosen, for which savings are a priority at this stage. Such an office in itself is an illustration of the dynamics, motivation and spirit of teamwork.
What is important when designing an open space office
Even at the design stage, several tasks must be solved at once: firstly, the spatial organization must be clearly visible. Secondly, ergonomics must be achievable without compromising the psychological comfort of employees. Thirdly, the office must comply with modern standards for working areas (ventilation, lighting level, sound absorption).
What does an open space office layout include?
· The space should be organized taking into account the trajectory of people's movement. Since there are no walls as such in the working area, it is necessary for employees to be as comfortable as possible at their workplaces and not interfere with others when moving around the office.
· The space should be divided into functional zones. Considering that people spend most of the day at work, their efficiency largely depends on the ability to switch to different types of activity or to rest. Thus, it is necessary to plan places for private negotiations, meeting spaces, recreation areas, etc. It is very important to foresee where silence is observed, and where you can behave more freely.
· Number of private workplaces and zones. Where will the offices be located, one way or another separated from the common space. How will they be zoned, how will ventilation be carried out there.
What does an open space office design include?
· How desktops will be placed - in rows, or "islands", or different options will be used.
What style of interior will be chosen: the color of the walls, the style of the furniture, the shape of the tables, and even the choice of lamps depend on this.
· What types of partitions will be used. The noise level in the open space office depends on the height of the partitions.
· How to arrange and what ideas to implement for the design of those areas that are intended for recreation and informal communication.
Specialists of Construction Company No. 1 will apply their many years of successful experience in the development of open space office spaces, give advice and propose a project that best meets the needs of the customer company.
