Balancing collaboration and privacy in academic workspaces

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of two different academic office environments in supporting collaboration and privacy. Design/methodology/approach -The approach takes the form of case studies involving post-occupancy questionnaire surveys of academic occupants. Findings -The combi-office design was found to be associated with higher levels of occupant satisfaction than the open-plan office design, with respect to support for collaboration and privacy.Research limitations/implications -The findings highlight the importance of understanding user requirements and the role of office space as a cognitive resource. Practical implications -Designers should consider the default location of occupants when designing academic and other creative workspaces. Social implications -Academic creativity and innovation are seen to be important for society. However, there needs to be a better understanding of how to support this through workspace design. Originality/value -This study contributes to the small but growing body of research on academic office design and creative workspaces in general.

Benefits of quiet workspaces in open-plan offices – Evidence from two office relocations

“…While the results support the view that distractions can lead to impaired collaboration and stress symptoms, the exact mechanisms still remain unclear. Collaboration might have been diminished because of impaired inter-personal relations (Bodin Danielsson et al, 2015) or simply because interaction was decreased, for example, due to a concern of disturbing others (Parkin, Austin, Pinder, Baguley, & Allenby, 2011). In addition, impaired collaboration may not be a source of stress but may rather reflect diminished social support that moderates the effects of environmental and other stressors (Karasek & Theorell, 1990;Viswesvaran et al, 1999).…”

The Impact of the Physical Work Environment on Organizational Outcomes: A Structured Review of the Literature

“…Their study also indicated that individual workstations were overwhelmingly preferred by employees for collaborative as well as other types of work. Parkin et al (2011)…”

Materiality and Space

“…propose an integrated framework to explain how the physical and social characteristics of a setting influence informal interaction. A workspace invites interaction only if it balances proximity, privacy and permission (Fayard & Weeks, 2011;Parkin et al, 2011). Moreover, some authors emphasize the importance of spaces that are not dedicated to the organization's core activity but where interactions may occur (Goffman, 1997;Allen & Henn, 2007;van Marrewijk & Yanow, 2010), such as corridors (Hurdley, 2010;, or coffee machines and photocopier rooms .…”