Observations on Spatial Characteristics for Successful Smart Offices and Smart Work Centers

Abstract

Advances in information and mobile technologies have changed the traditional firm ways of working very flexible, collaborative and innovative, resulting in the changes in work place structures and layouts. Despite the growing body of literature examining the novel ways of working, which is called smart work, there is little academic attentions paid to the spatial aspects of new work places, namely smart offices and smart work centers. This research explores the spatial changes of work places that improve business efficiency and collaboration among workers suitable for the novel ways of working. Conducting in-depth field surveys on selected cases, we analyzed the changes in spatial structure and operation policies of smart offices and smart work centers. From this survey, we observed that the new work places under study take various novel spatial forms and they have flexible operating policies such as flexible seating and flexible work hours. We also found that it would be difficult to change existing business practices and typical ways of performing tasks, without changing the bureaucratic spatial designs and layouts. Future studies are suggested to examine how spatial structures and layouts of offices have impacts on space utilization, collaboration, creativity, and job satisfaction.