Choosing where to work: an empirical study of collaborative activities’ impact on workspace choice behavior
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Author (Corporation)
Publication date
17.09.2024
Typ of student thesis
Course of study
Type
01A - Journal article
Editors
Editor (Corporation)
Supervisor
Parent work
Journal of Corporate Real Estate
Special issue
DOI of the original publication
Link
Series
Series number
Volume
ahead-of-print
Issue / Number
ahead-of-print
Pages / Duration
Patent number
Publisher / Publishing institution
Emerald
Place of publication / Event location
Leeds
Edition
Version
Programming language
Assignee
Practice partner / Client
Abstract
Purpose
In today’s rapidly evolving work landscape, the design of office spaces is a crucial concern for organizations. Companies are redefining offices as collaboration hubs to entice employees back to in-person work. However, the understanding of how employees choose their workspaces, especially for collaborative activities, and how this should inform office design is lacking. Workers’ collaborative activity patterns can help better understand workspace choice behavior (WCB). In two studies, this paper aims to explore which characteristics of collaborative activities to consider when reshaping offices.
Design/methodology/approach
Data collected in a cross-sectional study design at a research institution (n = 285) and a university (n = 352) were used for confirmatory factor analyses and regression analysis.
Findings
The first study shows that collaborative activities can be classified into three distinct types: coordinative activities (planned and formal), deep collaboration (planned and complex) and spontaneous communication (informal and short encounters). The second study revalidates this classification and reveals patterns impacting WCB. Frequency and location preference of spontaneous communication and work environment satisfaction are strong predictors of on-site work. Personal characteristics like gender, age, managerial position or commute time are less consequential than assumed.
Practical implications
The results pinpoint guidelines for office designers and leaders in shaping effective workspaces and policies.
Originality/value
This paper provides new insights into classifying collaborative activities and personal characteristics, activity characteristics and environmental factors influencing WCB.
Keywords
Office Design, Hybrid Work, Collaborative Activity, Workspace choice behavior
Subject (DDC)
Event
Exhibition start date
Exhibition end date
Conference start date
Conference end date
Date of the last check
ISBN
ISSN
1463-001X
Language
English
Created during FHNW affiliation
Yes
Strategic action fields FHNW
New Work
Publication status
Published
Review
Peer review of the complete publication
Open access category
Hybrid
License
Citation
Mateescu, M., Schulze, H., & Kauffeld, S. (2024). Choosing where to work: an empirical study of collaborative activities’ impact on workspace choice behavior. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print). https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRE-05-2024-0017