THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Office Layout and job gets done quicker consuming less time.

and job gets done quicker consuming less time. In other words, the flow of work
is not interrupted.

Office Layout - it is nothing but positioning or organizing all the office needs and 6. Facilitate Supervision: When office accommodation and layout is

resources in the space available. designed to place managers or supervisor closer to their teams, they can meet
or discuss issues immediately and get solutions.

What is the Importance of Office Layout? 7. Effective use of equipment: For this you need to pay attention to some

Office layouts are arranged so that staff can work together in departmental and of the issues like the provision of sufficient space, assessing the needs of staff,

team groupings, providing the best opportunity for efficient work flow, communication the design of workstation; in short complete office design.

and supervision.
Various reasons behind the need of having a proper office design layout: Principles of Layout

1. Impacts morale: When we say layout, it does not imply only the décor and 1. Work should flow continuously forward, as nearly as possible in a straight

facilities, but the relationships between people who work there and the general line.

environment. 2. Departments that have similar functions or frequent contact with each other

2. Impacts business: As layout has an impact on the morale, it directly impacts should be located near one another to reduce travel time.

the efficiency and thereby the business success rate. The more the people 3. Central service groups, such as stenographic pools, should be conveniently

working there are happy, the better is the output. located near the employees and departments who use them.

3. Way the work is done: The work or task at this modern age has changed 4. Furniture and equipment should be arranged in a straight line, with any

due to globalization that is governed by the use of information technology. The angular placement of desks and chairs reserved for supervisory personnel.

tremendous developments in this technology have impacted the office working 5. Space allowances should be adequate for work needs and employee comfort.

hours and way to perform the tasks. 6. Furniture and equipment of uniform size make for greater flexibility and more

4. Manage changes: Businesses are prone to changes to manage the pressure uniform appearance.

of the market needs. To keep up with it, layouts are effective only when the 7. All employees should face in the same direction, with supervisors placed to

changes can be accommodated within the rear of work groups.

5. Increase productivity: Using office space effectively is important while 8. Desks should be arranged o that no employee is compelled to face an

designing office layouts. It should be such a way that it does not delay the work objectionable light source. Illumination should strike the employee’s work
area from above and slightly behind the employee.
 9. Units that utilise noisy equipment, such as data processing or telex machines
should be located in separate rooms to avoid disturbing other work groups.
10. Work groups that have frequent contact with the public should be located in
an easily accessible place.
11. Large, rectangular blocks of space facilitate work flow and provide greater
flexibility.
12. Departments in which work is necessarily untidy should be kept away from
public view.
13. Suitable light and air conditioning for all employees should be provided.
14. Necessary private offices should be located where they are least interfered.
15. Personnel and equipment needs, both present and furniture, should be Advantages:
considered when determining space requirements and layout. • More privacy
16. Water fountains, bulletin boards, and vending machines should be placed • Less distractions
where they will cause the least congestion or distraction. • Infections and illnesses less easily spread
17. Rest rooms and lounge areas should be conveniently located. • Employees can personalise their environment
• More security of documents and belongings
Disadvantages:
• Harder for manager to supervise staff
The 2 main types of office layout are: • Communication may be more difficult
Cellular - consists of rooms in which an employee works on his/her own or with a few • Time lost moving for room to room
other employees. It has permanent partitions, doors, and windows. • Employees may feel isolated
• Less friendly or relaxed atmosphere

Open Plan - a large area where many employees work together. Divided through the
use of screens, filing cabinets, and others.
Advantages:
• Easier to communicate
• Less time wasted passing information/work
• Promotes team spirit
• Easy to supervise employees
• Equipment can be shared more easily
Disadvantages:
• Being distracted or interrupted
• Infections and illnesses can be more easily spread
• Fewer areas for confidential meetings
• Lack of privacy
• Security