As businesses begin to slowly and cautiously reopen their physical doors, "business as usual" is far from reality. Employees are juggling much more than work stress and, as a result, productivity can be difficult.
Given this, we want to take a look at two proven work styles that are adaptable to different workplaces: agile, activity-based work.
Activity-Based Work
A workplace or activity-based workspace (ABW) is a space within an office that directly reflects work. Activity-based workspaces encourage movement throughout the workday and can affect significant improvements in employee productivity, engagement, and job satisfaction.
Agile work or office
According to Advanced Workplace, an agile organization is defined as "a company that has implemented specific strategic decisions that enable flexible working, inside and outside the physical workspace." This style of work gives employees the freedom to work in a way that leads to maximum productivity.
Some changes in existing methodologies in the workplace during COVID-19
Companies are no longer necessarily committed to office operations, and employees find the flexibility of this sudden change positive. There is no doubt that the way in which the offices will be used will be different and open to future possibilities.
Agile work implies a certain level of flexibility to maintain a higher level of employee engagement. In other words, agile work allows employees to decide when, where and how to work.
Activity-based work is a method in which employees can choose a work environment that suits their tasks. For example, if a team needs space to collaborate on a project, it can move to a designated workspace where collaboration is allowed and encouraged.
So how can these two styles of work be used to create a more productive workplace? Let's take a look at each in more detail.
Agile work and flexible work are commonly exchanged, except that there is a significant difference between the two. Flexible work encompasses work done both inside and outside the physical office, while agile work primarily refers to work that takes place within the office.
Adopting an agile workplace means letting employees dictate how to do their best work. An example of an agile and effective workplace would be the project management software company Basecamp. Basecamp prides itself on being an organization whose success is based on this type of flexibility.
In the same vein as agile work, activity-based work consists of creating spaces throughout the office that serve different purposes. While agile work requires rethinking how tasks are planned and accomplished, companies can achieve activity-based work without restructuring any business objectives. Dedicated spaces organize the office in a way conducive to productivity.
However, unlike agile work, activity-based work can look different under the lens of COVID-19. Dedicated collaboration spaces and other shared areas are not the best for mitigating the spread of the virus.
