On Workers’ Fit with Activity-Based Work Environments

Jan Gerard Hoendervanger

On Workers’ Fit with Activity-Based Work Environments

Jan Gerard Hoendervanger

Facility Management

Onderzoeksoutput: PhD Research internal, graduation external

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Dankzij de groei van kenniswerk sinds de jaren ’80, worden tegenwoordig veel banen
gekenmerkt door een hoge mate van autonomie en afwisseling tussen verschillende
typen werkzaamheden. Geavanceerde informatie- en communicatie-technologie
(ICT) stelt kenniswerkers steeds beter in staat om afwisselend gebruik te maken van
verschillende werklocaties; een trend die naar verwachting versterkt zal doorzetten
na de COVID-19 periode. Al deze ontwikkelingen veranderen het gebruik van
kantooromgevingen ingrijpend. Daarom vragen veel organisaties, adviseurs en
ontwerpers zich af hoe de werkomgeving hedendaagse kenniswerkers effectiever en
efficiënter kan ondersteunen. In de afgelopen twintig jaar lijken steeds meer van
hen het ultieme antwoord te hebben gevonden: activiteitgerelateerd werken
(activity-based working; ABW). Volgens dit concept beschikt een groep
medewerkers over een gevarieerd aanbod van niet-persoonsgebonden
werkplekken, waardoor zij afwisselend verschillende typen plekken kunnen
gebruiken voor hun uiteenlopende werkzaamheden. Tot op heden vallen de
praktijkervaringen met ABW omgevingen over het algemeen echter tegen. Daarbij
valt op dat sommige mensen fit1 lijken te ervaren en anderen juist niet, terwijl zij
dezelfde werkomgeving gebruiken.

Originele taal-2	English
Toekennende instantie	Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
Begeleider(s)/adviseur	van Yperen, N.W., Advisor, Externe Persoon Alberts, C.J., Advisor, Externe Persoon Mobach, Mark P., Supervisor
Datum van toekenning	8 apr. 2022
Uitgever	University of Groningen
Elektronische ISBN's	978-94-6421-230-3
Status	Published - 8 apr. 2021

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ThesisFinal published version, 25,2 MB

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Ph.D.-project 'Psychological Choice in the Context of New Ways of Working'
Hoendervanger, J. G., van Yperen, N., Albers, C. & Mobach, M. P.
1/09/13 → 8/04/21
Project: PHD Onderzoek

1 Article

Perceived fit and user behavior in activity-based work environments
Hoendervanger, J. G., van Yperen, N., Mobach, M. P. & Albers, C., 2021, In: Environment & behavior.
Onderzoeksoutput: Article › Academic › peer review

Citeer dit

@phdthesis{a6d92f5aaf1c4ffea936b69f11061de2,

title = "On Workers{\textquoteright} Fit with Activity-Based Work Environments",

abstract = "Due to the rise of knowledge work since the 1980s, high job autonomy and high task variety have become common job characteristics. Knowledge workers increasingly work across multiple locations, using advanced information and communication technologies; a trend that is expected to accelerate in the post-COVID-19 world of work. As these developments fundamentally change the use of office work environments, organizations and workplace professionals have been searching for new ways to facilitate the workforce more effectively and efficiently. In the past two decades, more and more of them seem to have found the ultimate solution in activity-based working (ABW). According to this concept, workers share a variety of non-assigned work settings, enabling them to use different work settings in accordance with their varying tasks. Yet, outcomes of AWB environments generally fall short of expectations. Remarkably, while sharing the same ABW environment, some workers seem to experience fit while others do not.Optimization of perceived fit with ABW environments is important fororganizations, since it is linked to various work outcomes. Currently, this isparticularly relevant in the context of expected post-COVID-19 changes in workpractices. To find clues for optimization of ABW practice, the current PhD research project was designed to examine how workers{\textquoteright} jobs, tasks, behaviors, psychological needs, and demographic characteristics may be related to their perceived fit. Two survey-based studies revealed relevant workers{\textquoteright} attributes, which were further examined in experience-sampling field studies and a virtual reality experiment. From the findings, a clear profile arises of workers who best fit with ABW environments, i.e.: high task variety, job autonomy, external and internal mobility, social interaction, and need for relatedness; low need for privacy; few highcomplexity tasks, many non-individual tasks; appropriately using open and closed work settings; frequently switching between work settings; relatively young age. ",

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N2 - Due to the rise of knowledge work since the 1980s, high job autonomy and high task variety have become common job characteristics. Knowledge workers increasingly work across multiple locations, using advanced information and communication technologies; a trend that is expected to accelerate in the post-COVID-19 world of work. As these developments fundamentally change the use of office work environments, organizations and workplace professionals have been searching for new ways to facilitate the workforce more effectively and efficiently. In the past two decades, more and more of them seem to have found the ultimate solution in activity-based working (ABW). According to this concept, workers share a variety of non-assigned work settings, enabling them to use different work settings in accordance with their varying tasks. Yet, outcomes of AWB environments generally fall short of expectations. Remarkably, while sharing the same ABW environment, some workers seem to experience fit while others do not.Optimization of perceived fit with ABW environments is important fororganizations, since it is linked to various work outcomes. Currently, this isparticularly relevant in the context of expected post-COVID-19 changes in workpractices. To find clues for optimization of ABW practice, the current PhD research project was designed to examine how workers’ jobs, tasks, behaviors, psychological needs, and demographic characteristics may be related to their perceived fit. Two survey-based studies revealed relevant workers’ attributes, which were further examined in experience-sampling field studies and a virtual reality experiment. From the findings, a clear profile arises of workers who best fit with ABW environments, i.e.: high task variety, job autonomy, external and internal mobility, social interaction, and need for relatedness; low need for privacy; few highcomplexity tasks, many non-individual tasks; appropriately using open and closed work settings; frequently switching between work settings; relatively young age.

AB - Due to the rise of knowledge work since the 1980s, high job autonomy and high task variety have become common job characteristics. Knowledge workers increasingly work across multiple locations, using advanced information and communication technologies; a trend that is expected to accelerate in the post-COVID-19 world of work. As these developments fundamentally change the use of office work environments, organizations and workplace professionals have been searching for new ways to facilitate the workforce more effectively and efficiently. In the past two decades, more and more of them seem to have found the ultimate solution in activity-based working (ABW). According to this concept, workers share a variety of non-assigned work settings, enabling them to use different work settings in accordance with their varying tasks. Yet, outcomes of AWB environments generally fall short of expectations. Remarkably, while sharing the same ABW environment, some workers seem to experience fit while others do not.Optimization of perceived fit with ABW environments is important fororganizations, since it is linked to various work outcomes. Currently, this isparticularly relevant in the context of expected post-COVID-19 changes in workpractices. To find clues for optimization of ABW practice, the current PhD research project was designed to examine how workers’ jobs, tasks, behaviors, psychological needs, and demographic characteristics may be related to their perceived fit. Two survey-based studies revealed relevant workers’ attributes, which were further examined in experience-sampling field studies and a virtual reality experiment. From the findings, a clear profile arises of workers who best fit with ABW environments, i.e.: high task variety, job autonomy, external and internal mobility, social interaction, and need for relatedness; low need for privacy; few highcomplexity tasks, many non-individual tasks; appropriately using open and closed work settings; frequently switching between work settings; relatively young age.

KW - healthy workplace

KW - perceived fit

KW - environment

M3 - PhD Research internal, graduation external

PB - University of Groningen

ER -

On Workers’ Fit with Activity-Based Work Environments

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Projecten

Ph.D.-project 'Psychological Choice in the Context of New Ways of Working'

Onderzoekersoutput

Perceived fit and user behavior in activity-based work environments

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