What do you want for ideal work environment? Then, you can simply tell you want four walls and a door. At other times, a collaborative area, or a comfortable sofa in a coffee lounge. The concept of Activity-Based Working (ABW) aims to provide all of this and more. Rather than of providing employees with just one, permanent workstation, ABW provide a variety of work environments for all types of activities. The concept has the potential to save cost while improving organizational performance.
Activity-based working (ABW) is a method of working in which employees make shared use of a variety of work environments that have been created to facilitate various types of activities. Reduced occupancy expenses, smaller environmental footprint, higher flexibility, improved team engagement, potential improvement in employee performance and support for cultural change are the benefits for the organisation. Greater autonomy in choosing where to work, greater choice and variety in work settings, advanced technologies that facilitate mobile working, increased contact with colleagues, fewer hierarchical differences, a less sedentary, healthier workstyle and fewer but better workplaces are the benefits for employees.
It can be difficult to implement. Therefore, when implementing ABW, make sure to do it effective and efficient manner. The most important factors for success of the concept are, gather data on work processes and space usage in order to be able to make informed decisions, link the ABW concept to strategic organizational objectives, visit other projects to gather inspiration and to benefit from the lessons learnt, involve employees in the analysis process to create awareness and engagement, reconfigure office spaces, create more efficient cleaning schedules and implement seating and occupancy management.