A User Centred Office Design Can Help Your Bottom Line

We recently contributed to an article in the Financial Times looking at how a good working environment and usable technology can improve staff productivity and reduce staff turnover. You can read the full article at http://www.ft.com/cms/s/866c890e-c587-11db-9fae-000b5df10621.html

At System Concepts we have years of experience helping businesses plan their office layout to get the best from their employees. Ergonomics puts people first - it makes the user of any system, tool, workstation, or environment the centre of the design process. The users' requirements are understood and built into the finished design.

Planning an office layout

When planning an office layout, this means two things:

• Asking people about their needs
• Involving them in the planning process

A valuable consequence of this approach is that people become much more committed to any reorganisation, since they have been involved in it. They understand the issues better and they are more likely to be patient at the implementation phase, since they have "ownership" of the plan. The premise is that, if the people are happy with the workplace, then it will work (or be made to work) well. If they are unhappy with it then no amount of expensive equipment or design will make it a success.

In planning an office we also apply other elements of expertise to the design including:

• Furniture choice (chairs and desks)
• Compliance with the Display Screen Equipment Regulations, 1992 (amended 2002)
• Communications within the workplace
• Teamworking
• Hot desk policies
• Layout
• Lighting
• Noise control

Stress

In a modern office, where people are working long hours at their desks, often in a stressful job, all these factors can be vital to the health and productivity of the staff. The most beautiful looking office will still be a source of stress to staff if the designer chairs are uncomfortable, or the "cool" lighting makes it impossible to see their computer screens. Similarly, expensive furniture is of no use to someone whose primary requirement is having two telephone lines or a bigger storage area. The ideal plan is a combination of fully understanding individual needs, and including basic ergonomic knowledge to ensure that people can work in comfort and safety.

Time invested in planning will save on false purchases, retrofits, low productivity and wasted time when things go wrong. It will also allow users to become involved and express their preferences, so that they don't feel that the new office is imposed on them.

For more information about how we can help you get the best performance from your staff by improving your office environment or making your technology more usable please contact us.