The document discusses the concept of "activity-based working", an office model where private workspaces are eliminated in favor of shared, flexible workspaces. It notes that traditional offices waste significant space through underutilized individual offices and cubicles. Activity-based working dispenses with private spaces and instead uses shared tables and spaces that anyone can use when available. This maximizes space use and encourages collaboration as employees from different teams interact. However, some quiet space may still be needed for focused individual work or meetings. Security of sensitive information is also a consideration with this more open office model. While change can be difficult for some, the cost and space savings are likely to result in more companies adopting activity-based

1. MINE, YOURS AND OURS
Today, there’s a price tag attached to every inch of office space. Yet how much space is wasted or
under-utilized in conventional offices where there are individual work stations, private offices and cabins,
not to mention those spacious and much-coveted corner offices?
That could be about to change. A new concept in conserving work space is fast gaining ground. It’s called
‘activity-based’ working. It takes the idea of ‘hotdesking’ a step further. With ‘hotdesking’ the same desk
is shared by different people in rotation. They plug in, do their work and check out. They usually don’t
belong to the same organization.
What happens with ‘activity-based’ working is that private, individual work spaces within an organization
are completely dispensed with. Instead there is one work space – usually a long table – that is shared by
all. When you see an empty space, you just move in and start working. People may be travelling or
business or away on holiday. They may be out at a sales call or a client meeting. If they have private
offices, those go empty – a huge waste of space. ‘Activity-based’ working, on the other hand, makes
optimum use of office space.
Cutting down on those hierarchical barriers also makes the whole ambience more free and easy. People
can move around and sit where they like. And they share more than space. They share ideas and get
inspired by their neighbours. The eight-hour working day becomes more fun and, importantly, more
productive. There’s a lot of flexibility when you adopt activity-based working. The whole work space
opens up. There is so much more fluidity. No walls to constrain you. It’s like opening up the barriers of the
mind.
With all its advantages, ‘activity-based’ working does have some limitations. What if you just want some
quiet time to think, generate breakthrough ideas? What if you want to brainstorm with your team? One
solution could be to have a special room that people can book ahead for just such a purpose. A white
room, for instance, where phones and cell phones are banned. Once you have got those elusive ideas,
it’s back to the drawing board – or, in this case, the long table - to put those ideas into action.
Security is an area of concern. You have to be extra careful about securing sensitive information.
Technology is a great help here, offering special devices to protect data. But there’s nothing like just
making sure there’s no one looking over your shoulder.
Not everyone would willingly opt for ‘activity-based’ working, however. Some people just don’t like
change. They like to have their own desks with personal photographs and paraphernalia around them.
For them ‘activity-based’ working may not work. At least, not yet. But we believe they will come round in
the end. The ‘activity-based’ model will be increasingly adopted as the cost and space-saving benefits
outweigh any resistance to the idea.
Meanwhile, how about asking that attractive neighbour who just sat down next to you, to lunch? It could
be the start of a great new friendship.