Promoting flexible workplace to enhance productivity of office worker

Abstract

To improve workforce productivity and to make major cost savings, various innovative workplace concepts are being utilised. A carefully planned workplace can have a significant impact on the performance of an organization. Even though the importance of flexible workplace towards increased productivity has been identified as a vital point in workplace planning and designing in Sri Lankan office context, there is a lack of research done on the enhanced productivity of office workers of public sector offices in Sri Lanka through the flexible workplace approach. Thus, this research was undertaken to study the relationship between productivity level of the employees and the flexible workspace design arrangements of workplace environment. Accordingly, the study was structured with a mix approach to accomplish the aim of this research. Literature revealed that flexible workplace approach relates to the concept of the physical layout and functional opportunities of the workspace which affect the office worker productivity and thereby conceptual framework was developed based on the literature findings. Through the case study approach, study identified the existing workplace practices. Expert survey was carried out to discover barriers, strategies which can be used in Sri Lankan office context when implementing flexible workplace approach. The gathered data were thereafter analysed using N-Vivo (2011) software. Finally, a framework was developed to promote flexible workplace concept in order to enhance productivity of the workers of Sri Lankan public offices. The framework could be useful for designers, planners and real estate developers to incorporate flexible workplace planning in Sri Lankan public office sector.