While many see the open office space concept as beneficial, like anything else, there are also many drawbacks to this sort of work space design. San Diego Office and Modular Design created an infographic to lay out the cons. 'Get In The Box To Think Outside Of It: Misconceptions About The Benefits Of An Open Office Space' lists a number of reasons why an open office might not be the best for employees, despite its rising popularity.
This kind of design can make it harder for workers to focus, which will result in more mistakes and less productivity, not to mention decreased privacy. Creativity can also be an issue, especially for introverted types.
Variety is the solution, with a mix of open areas as well as smaller spaces.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Decreased Productivity
- The drawbacks of open office spaces include decreased productivity and increased mistakes.
- Lack of Privacy
- Open office spaces result in decreased privacy for employees.
- Creativity Challenges
- Open office spaces may hinder creativity, particularly for introverted employees.
Where This Applies
- Office Furniture
- Opportunities for disruptive innovation in office furniture to create solutions that improve privacy and increase productivity in open office spaces.
- Workspace Design
- Innovations in workspace design that utilize a mix of open areas and smaller spaces to address the drawbacks of open office spaces and optimize productivity.
- Employee Productivity Tools
- Opportunities for disruptive innovation in tools and technologies that enhance focus and productivity in open office environments.
