• Communication

"The more a work setting is perceived to be

innovative in terms of fostering staff interaction,
the greater is the measuring of staff productivity
and the level of productivity." (Ilozor et al., 2002).
Organizations are constrained communication
networks where the organizational structure seeks
to facilitate the vertical flow of information,
and the location of employees and planning of
the workplace provides horizontal coordination
leading to a communication network for
processing data. Hence, communication is central to
the concept of an organization, and spatial planning
structures its flow to facilitate the efficient transition
of communication data.
Communication in an office takes place through
two mediums- through emails, phone calls, video
conferencing (virtual connectivity) which are
all facilitated by technology. Another medium
is through personal, face to face interactions
where the workplace layout and organization is
used to encourage different degrees and types
of interactions based on work relationships for
improving organizational performance.
However, communication is solely based on
interaction, but just communication is incomplete in
the process of work. Hence there are two variables
of communication that play a significant role in the
processing of work: Interaction and Autonomy.
Ideas are generated through interaction while
autonomy facilitates working through those
ideas. Interaction and autonomy affect worker's
expectations about the layout, and they are
correlated to the spatial planning and various other
aspects of office design which directly influences the
spatial performance.
Autonomy
Autonomy is the degree of control an office
worker has over the content, location of their
work setting. This gives them the freedom to
choose the kind and quality of surroundings they
want to work in, based on the types of work they are
assigned. It facilitates focus, the concentrated study
which needs a distraction free environment. Spaces
facilitating "l" working modes facilitate autonomy.
Office workers want to be able to undertake
distraction-free solo work, but also value the
opportunity to have an informal interaction with
their colleagues. The degree of autonomy required
varies from work types.
Fig 3.1.4. Autonomy in an open plan which
enables focus work along with visual connectivity.
Fig 3.1.5. Booths in a collaborative planning
enable total autonomy in a confined space meant
for solo working.