In the Age of Information, the way we work, collaborate, and communicate is in a state of constant evolution.
Emerging technologies and fresh cultural perspectives mean that the traditional segmented workspace is a concept of the past. To ensure sustainable growth in the modern world, it’s important to find new ways of fostering community and improving interdepartmental cohesion.
Open space work environments are emerging as the way of the future, dissolving hierarchical barriers and increasing engagement across industries. And according to a recent report, cohesive, open plan workplace designs result in an average 33% boost in employee satisfaction.
To put the virtues of embracing space working environments into perspective, here we look at three key reasons you should embrace a cohesive professional environment for your business.
Fluid organisational communication
Niche or industry aside, the cornerstone of any successful organisation is communication. While business’ departments were once segmented, in the digital age, internal roles or functions are becoming all the more cohesive.
For instance, traditionally, businesses would separate sales and marketing departments, treating them as completely individual entities. But, as digital transformation evolved, the crossovers between sales and marketing became all the more apparent (the use of targeted content to drive consumers down the sales funnel being a prime example)—and now, the two departments work alongside one another to achieve key goals and meet targets.
As departments in modern organisations begin to operate more cohesively, working together to improve the business as a whole, open work spaces have become essential vessels of communication.
If it’s possible to see the people you’re working with and communicate with them freely, it’s possible to get more done while producing better results.
Talking about open workspaces, Orbium developer, offers her own insights on internal communication:
The main factor that gets improved is the communication and collaboration between employees and teammates. Transparency and culture is seen through the ability to reach your seniors without any hesitation. Although it does take maturity to be in such an environment and be able to perform well as at times, it can be distracting.
While there is more potential for distraction in open space workspaces, the pros certainly outweigh the cons—and with a little acclimatisation as well as etiquette, you can keep productively consistent at all times.
Enhanced collaboration
Working in an open space environment creates a more collaborative and social atmosphere in the workplace. — Lourdes Santiago (Graduate Associate Analyst Programmer), Orbium
Solid communication drives successful collaboration—and when it comes to delivering company-wide campaigns or initiatives, open work spaces are invaluable.
By removing physical barriers and minimising departmental segmentation, open work spaces encourage everyone to work cohesively, pushing towards a common goal.
The open space work environment offers the unique opportunity to work as a true team on each and every pivotal project. In this space, ideas and feedback are shared freely, the illusion of competition is diminished, and creativity prevails.
The likes of Dropbox and NeueHouse have redefined the way they work by creating highly-collaborative open workspaces. In doing so, these companies have increased productivity and improved engagement by providing people the tools to connect with and learn from one another.
As we migrate towards an increasingly connected digital future, businesses across sectors will ditch their cubicles and boardrooms for more transparent, collaborative working environments.
Breaking down cultural barriers through community
In conversation about Orbium’s collaborative, open work space, Analyst Programmer commented on the sense of community these environments foster:
Open space environments promote a sense of belonging and increases visibility among your colleagues. “It increases productivity because you are conscious of how people act within your organisation, you get to see how you fit in your workplace and what you could improve to foster a better environment.
From Janice’s experiences, it’s clear that in addition to fostering internal communication and collaboration, open workspaces have a positive impact in a cultural sense. Company culture is the lifeblood of any firm as it develops a true sense of community, driving both internal and external values.
Essentially, company culture offers a blueprint into what a business stands for and how people within the organisation approach one another. By breaking down physical barriers within the office, you will also break down cultural barriers, building a prosperous melting pot where everyone belongs, and everyone feels part of something meaningful.
The average person spends around 90,000 hours of their lifetime at work—and by creating an open workspace where community and culture thrives, you will make coming into the office truly worthwhile. In doing so, the company will thrive and continue to grow, year after year.
Open plan workspaces are the future and by embracing this new breed of professional environment today, you stand to reap great rewards tomorrow and long into the future.
For more business-based pearls of wisdom, read our four tips to keep implementation projects short and sweet.
