In What is ABW? (Basics), we provided basic knowledge about ABW. In the Practical section, we will introduce Advantage and disadvantage of ABW for those who are considering implementing ABW. Many people also think that simply renovating an office is all that is needed to implement ABW, but in reality, changing the office does not change the mindset or behavior of workers who work there. We will explain the process of change, including what elements are essential to making ABW successful and what phases there are from introducing ABW to when the new way of working becomes established among workers.

1. Improved employee satisfaction
   

   Because workers themselves choose where to work based on their activities, they have more discretion and are more satisfied. Comparing the workers before and after the introduction of ABW, the results show that employee satisfaction after the introduction of ABW increased by 10%.
   ※Source 1

2. Increased productivity
   

   By reframing the content of work into 10 activities and changing the place of work according to the activity, you can work more efficiently. For example, you can first go to an environment that supports high concentration to concentrate on your work alone, then take a short rest in a relaxing environment to build up the energy to carry out the next task, and finally choose an environment that is easy to discuss with multiple people to generate ideas. In fact, workers work in an environment that supports ABW working (hereinafter workers in an ABW environment) can choose from multiple work environments according to the activity, and the results show that they feel 15% more productive than workers in a non-ABW environment.
   ※Source 2

3. Easier sharing of ideas and knowledge
   

   Since there are more opportunities to work nearby with members of not only the same department but also other departments, it becomes easier for people to communicate spontaneously and generate new ideas. In fact, 74% of workers in ABW environments responded that it is easier to share ideas and knowledge with colleagues.
   ※Source 2

4. Improve your company's image
   

   Compared to uniform offices, offices with dedicated spaces for each activity not only increase workers satisfaction, but also send a positive message to the outside world as a pioneering company that introduces new ways of working. workers in ABW environments are 12% more likely to say that the design of their workplace has had a positive impact on the company's image among visitors, clients, and potential employees than workers in non-ABW environments.
   ※Source 2

5. Increased organizational flexibility
   

   When introducing ABW, it is important not only to review the office environment and ICT environment, but also to review the behavioral changes of workers. Changing the work style of each workers fosters a flexible organizational culture. 81% of workers in an ABW environment answered that their organization's culture supports flexible working styles.
   ※Source 2

6. Contribute to reducing office costs
   

   Because ABWs choose to work wherever they feel they can be most productive, including outside of the office, the office does not need as many individual work seats for the number of workers people present. Therefore, even if the environment that supports the activity is rethought and more collaboration seats are added, the overall square footage is reduced, potentially leading to cost savings. In fact, companies that have implemented ABW in the past have reported an average reduction of 10-15% in office costs.
   *Source 1

1. It's difficult to know where everyone is, so we need to change the way we manage things.
   

   管理者の目線で考えると、オフィス内にとどまらず自宅やサテライトオフィス、カフェなど働く場所が多様化することで、目の前で部下をマネジメントすることが出来なくなります。そこで「部下が今どこで何をしているのか？」そのような不安・懸念を解消するために、信頼関係を築く「コミュニケーションマネジメント」とはで紹介しているような、ABWの働き方に合わせてチーム内でのコミュニケーションの取り方やマネジメントのルールを作る「チームの合意」を行う取り組みが重要になります。チームメンバー全員で約束事を決めることで、チームの信頼関係構築を加速させます。

2. More efforts to foster a sense of solidarity and belonging will be necessary
   

   With the ABW work style, even if you go to the office, you won't necessarily have members of your department around you at your desk. Furthermore, when working remotely, there are many situations where you don't have coworkers from the company. This means that you won't be able to "feel the atmosphere of the company or department while working," as you did in the past. It is important to consciously take steps to increase opportunities for interaction with members, such as "setting aside time for one-on-one time between superiors and subordinates once a week" or "creating opportunities for chatting within the team," to increase the sense of solidarity and belonging within the organization.

3. It is necessary to disseminate the purpose of introducing ABW
   

   To implement the ABW work style, it is necessary to foster a mindset workers that allows them to autonomously think about better ways of working, so it is important to share the purpose of introducing ABW. If the background and purpose of the introduction are not shared, workers will not see the point in changing their work style, and will always end up working in the same place, and those around them will not be able to choose a place that suits their activities. As a result, even if ABW is introduced, the expected effects may not be achieved.

4. High initial investment cost
   

   Transitioning to an ABW working style requires an initial investment cost as it requires reviewing office, IT, and behavioral aspects.

イトーキは、ABWの創始者であるVeldhoen + Companyと2019年より業務提携し、ABWコンサルティングサービスを展開しております。