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Open-plan offices can help encourage team interaction and greater productivity

The argument over whether open-plan office space is beneficial or detrimental to business has raged for many years.

Open-plan offices have been blamed for affecting productivity, spreading illnesses and even causing high blood pressure. But on the plus side it has been praised for encouraging collaboration through teamwork and helping to boost the confidence levels of new recruits, which has in turn led to greater motivation among staff and higher levels of productivity.

The 'ergonomics' of office and employee - the science of designing the workplace to fit the worker - has gradually evolved over many years. Now, many modern workplaces benefit from carefully designed offices, incorporating comfortable features such as large windows, temperature control systems, relaxing break-out areas, and even desks specially designed to encourage interaction between teams.

Office distractions

In an open-plan office, some workers find the atmosphere overly off-putting, and are frequently distracted from their work by office chatter and ringing phones.

An office worker based in Greenwich recently contacted the Telegraph's 'Readers' Clinic', in an attempt to help resolve the constant distractions at work. He said:

"I used to have my own office, but now sit on an open-plan bank of desks, and the noise levels are making it difficult for me to focus. On top of general office chit-chat and milling about, there is a near-constant ringing of telephones."

The problems faced by this particular office worker are common in the majority of open-plan layouts. Many employees start their careers in busy or large offices, so quickly adapt to the environment. But for those who are used to having their own office, the change can be highly disruptive.

Executive coach Tom Preston offers practical advice on addressing the problem. He suggests that workplace distractions are a negative view, and instead, a noisy open-plan office should be seen as a busy workplace - a hive of creation, that "makes teamwork easier".

Team environment

On the plus side, open-plan offices have become hugely popular in recent years, and one of the biggest benefits of this layout is its ability to encourage interaction between teams. This is especially important for project teams or departments, as members can collaborate across the desk and share ideas or documents quickly and easily.

Open plan offices can also help boost self-assurance levels in new or less confident members of staff, and by being located near their line managers or supervisors, more junior staff members have the assurance of knowing their support network is close by.

This also works for managers, as they are able to monitor their staff and ensure that employees are punctual, and are carrying out their duties as expected throughout the day.

Many businesses choose open-plan office environments because they generally allow for better use of space and ultimately mean that more employees can be fitted into the office. In addition, it is often cheaper to keep an open-plan office the way it is, rather than carry out a re-fit to segregate large rooms into smaller individual suites, which can be expensive, time-consuming and disruptive.

Energy efficient?

One problem with an open-plan office layout, particularly concerning buildings with older wiring systems, is that it can generate extra utility costs such as heating and lighting. Large open-plan offices require heating or cooling, along with electricity for lighting and equipment, throughout the day - regardless of how many people occupy the room. One of the benefits of smaller suites is that the power can be switched off and the door closed to stop energy loss, but in a larger office this is unavoidable.

One effective solution for energy loss in large open-plan offices is the use of technology such as sensor lighting, which is only powered when movement is detected. This helps cut out energy loss through unnecessary lighting in larger offices, helping to save money for the business and is also beneficial to the environment.

There are benefits for and against the use of open-plan office space versus smaller office suites, but in recent years the use of open-plan offices has been particularly widespread, and this trend has carried through into the design and construction of many new office buildings too.

What are your thoughts on working in an open-plan office - are you too easily distracted from chatter, or do you find it stimulating? Does an open-plan office help improve your productivity at work - or would you rather be tucked away in a small quiet office? Leave your feedback using the comment box below.