Analysing user preferences for co-working space characteristics

Abstract

Over the past decades, the use of mobile technology has increased and the attitude towards work has changed, making it possible to work anywhere at any time. However, workers still seek work environments that stimulate networking and collaboration possibilities. This has led to the growing popularity of co-working spaces. However, little is known about the specific preferences of co-working space users. The aim of this research is to analyse user preferences for co-working space characteristics. Stated choice data were collected by means of a questionnaire which was completed by 219 respondents of 25 co-working spaces in the Netherlands. A mixedmultinomial logit model was used to analyse the user preferences. Results show that the main motivations for co-workers to work in a co-working space were that they were looking for a workplace outside their home that allows them to work in an inspiring work environment where the accommodation is affordable. Accessibility and atmosphere/interior are the most important characteristics when choosing a specific co-working space. These results provide owners or managers of co-working spaces with clear insights about how to cope with co-worker preferences by offering co-working spaces with good accessibility by car and public transport, a semi-open layout and a homelike interior.

Coworking and Coliving: The Attraction for Digital Nomad Tourists

“…As a result, a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of coworking and coliving space seen by digital nomads was developed (Table 1 ). This study discovered that digital nomads highly value community sense, pleasant work environment, convenience, ability to consult and learn from others; these factors are aligned with findings in the previous research [ 6 , 16 , 17 , 19 , 20 ]. Also, participants appreciated that coworking and coliving space helps them with local tips, like restaurants and things to do, especially during the first visit to the area.…”

“…Participants pointed out such features as comfortable furniture, good lighting, plants, air-conditioning, light, noise level, internet speed, and coffee quality. The importance of the atmosphere and interior aesthetics and the layout of the space was previously mentioned by researchers [ 19 ]. Besides a pleasant work environment being acknowledged as an advantage, five participants mentioned a negative experience in coworking and coliving places with loud parties being a major distraction from work.…”

Cultivating fertile learning grounds: Collegiality, tacit knowledge and innovation in creative co-working spaces

“…This research has focused on a diverse selection of creative flexible workspaces in the Netherlands. Even though it occasionally touched upon some of the differences between the eight locations, further research could include a more rigorous comparison of certain types of workspaces (Fuzi, 2015;Weijs-Perrée et al, 2019) in order to investigate their success in fostering innovation. Why did California's Silicon Valley thrive, and Massachusetts' Route 128 less so?…”

“…From the 1990s, many old, often industrial buildings were transformed into workplaces for creative firms in organic bottom-up initiatives or top-down developed projects. These creative clustersoffering flexible or co-working oriented workspacesare growing in number and diversity, including for example co-working spaces, incubators, serviced offices and workspaces without any facilities (Fuzi, 2015;Weijs-Perrée et al, 2019). This research focuses on eight of such shared creative workspaces in The Netherlands: Belcanto in Haarlem, BINK36 in The Hague, Creative Factory in Rotterdam, De Gruyter Fabriek in Den Bosch, Klein Haarlem in Haarlem, De Vasim in Nijmegen, Dutch Game Garden in Utrecht and Strijp-S in Eindhoven.…”

Do Industrial Clusters Still Matter to Trust-Building in the Internet Era? A Network Embeddedness Perspective

“…The open-area physical design of shared workspaces attracts co-workers for the convenient face-to-face interactions (Parrino, 2015;Spinuzzi, Bodrožić, Scaratti, & Ivaldi, 2019). Entrepreneurs within a co-working space have more chances to observe the situations of other companies and assess better knowledge of each other, shortening mutual psychological distance of trust-building and business partner selections (Wang & Loo, 2017;Weijs-Perrée, Koevering, Appel-Meulenbroek, & Arentze, 2019). The phenomenon of geographical proximity in co-working spaces also affirms the results of this article that (a) interpersonal relationships are positively related to inter-organizational trust-building in an industrial cluster; (b) geographical proximity within a certain rage that actors can observe eath other is positively related to trust-building within an cluster.…”