Flexibility is synonymous with current models and methods of work organization. Companies continuously test new solutions to meet team members’ expectations while enhancing their efficiency and motivation. Many organizations, besides offering benefits like remote work or workation, also see potential in creating a diverse office environment and freedom in utilizing its potential. This is the role of Activity Based Working (ABW). What is this concept, and how can serviced offices help implement it in an organization?
What is Activity Based Working?
Many office workers emphasize that performing daily professional duties in the same place and at the same desk negatively affects their attitude, motivation, and efficiency. One increasingly common solution to this problem is the concept of Activity Based Working, encapsulated in the slogan “don’t get attached to your desk.”
With this approach, offices are adapted to modern management models and meet the needs of dynamic teams valuing freedom, comfort, quality, and work efficiency. What sets Activity Based Working apart from standard office spaces?
- Desk-sharing: Employees do not have a fixed workplace, as they can choose a different desk each day depending on their needs.
- Office zones: Offices provide teams with several zones related to different activities, such as quiet areas for concentration, spaces for client meetings, or rooms for group work.
- Flexibility: Employees gain full flexibility regarding the choice of time, place, and work tools.
History of Activity Based Working
The concept of activity-based work is attributed to Robert Luchetti, an American architect who, around 1983, proposed creating an “activity-supporting environment” to perform various office tasks or hold meetings. This approach did not gain popularity in America but was quickly adopted in Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
The term “activity-based working” was first described in *The Art of Working* by Dutch consultant Erik Veldhoen. His company collaborated with Interpolis, one of the largest insurers in the Netherlands, aiming to implement this work style. They abandoned fixed desks and allowed employees to decide where and when they wanted to work. The focus shifted from how tasks were performed to the final result.
Advantages of Activity Based Working
Activity Based Working complements modern, highly effective management styles, where trust, flexibility, and autonomy are paramount. The main advantages of activity-based working include:
- Increased employee productivity
- Thoughtful and maximal use of office space
- Improved well-being
- Better personal time management
- A way to establish connections and build organizational culture
Activity Based Working and Serviced Offices – How Does It Work?
Due to its specificity, Activity Based Working fits perfectly into the DNA of many companies, especially those in IT, marketing, or remote teams. However, implementing this work style requires well-thought-out organization and adapted spaces that fulfill all the concept’s conditions. Finding a suitable place to provide employees with various activities often turns out to be the biggest challenge. Serviced offices come to the rescue – comfortable spaces tailored to the work styles of teams.
Renting a serviced office greatly facilitates introducing the concept of Activity Based Working into an organization. Each serviced office provides access to comfortable workstations where team members can perform their duties with full concentration. The spaces offered by serviced offices typically also allow the use of additional services such as coworking, training, or conference rooms, perfect for hosting clients. The availability of these spaces allows employees to maintain flexibility and comfort in choosing the right area for specific tasks.
How Does Activity Based Working Affect Employees?
An office adapted to Activity Based Working creates suitable conditions for performing various tasks, thus increasing efficiency, a sense of belonging, and satisfaction. An employee who can decide about the time and place of their work feels that their well-being and comfort are genuinely important to the employer, significantly increasing motivation to work. A space that implements this concept can significantly enhance employees’ focus and drive to maintain high-quality work.
Are you interested in implementing the concept of Activity Based Working? Looking for an office to rent? Wrocław and the IdeaPlace spaces located there are ideal for this. The serviced office in our offer will undoubtedly aid in improving work and management models in your organization. If you have any questions, we are here to help!
Ewa Rogoż
Ewa Rogoż is an experienced coworking pioneer in Wrocław and the founder of IdeaPlace – the first professional coworking space in Lower Silesia. Her dedication to business development and support for entrepreneurs led to the creation of an inspiring space in the heart of the city. Ewa not only creates coworking spaces for freelancers but also micro-offices for small teams, thereby supporting diverse business initiatives in the region.
