Short answer

When designing or implementing shared desk systems, anticipate a reduction in personalization and workstation attachment, and consider alternative ways for employees to feel a sense of place and ownership.

Field: Human Factors
Source: Journal of Corporate Real Estate (2022)
Method: Quasi-experimental, longitudinal study using questionnaires and focus group discussions.
Evidence: Strong effect

Implementing shared desk policies in offices leads to a significant decrease in employees' ability to personalize their workspace and their attachment to a specific workstation. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2022 study published in Journal of Corporate Real Estate. Using Quasi-experimental, longitudinal study using questionnaires and focus group discussions., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing or implementing shared desk systems, anticipate a reduction in personalization and workstation attachment, and consider alternative ways for employees to feel a sense of place and ownership.

Study

Human FactorsHigh ImpactStrong effect

Shared Desks Reduce Personalization and Workstation Attachment

Implementing shared desk policies in offices leads to a significant decrease in employees' ability to personalize their workspace and their attachment to a specific workstation.

Journal of Corporate Real Estate · 2022

Key Findings

01The degree of personalization significantly decreased across the entire employee population, not just for those losing permanent workstations.
02Workplace attachment remained stable for the entire population.
03Workstation attachment showed a significant decrease among employees who switched to shared desks.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

Before implementing shared desk policies, conduct employee surveys to gauge current levels of personalization and attachment, and plan for alternative methods of fostering a sense of belonging.

Project actions

01Consider how your design allows for or restricts personal expression.
02Investigate how different users form attachments to spaces and objects.

Method & Evidence

AimTo investigate the impact of a transition from permanent workstations to a shared desk system, supplemented by a hybrid work option, on employees' territorial behavior (personalization) and place attachment.

MethodQuasi-experimental, longitudinal study using questionnaires and focus group discussions.

ProcedureEmployees' territorial behavior and place attachment were measured over time using questionnaires before and after the office redesign. Focus group discussions were conducted to gather qualitative insights.

ContextOffice environment, specifically a company transitioning to shared desk arrangements.

Variables

IVType of workstation arrangement (permanent vs. shared desk).

DVDegree of personalization, workplace attachment, workstation attachment.

CVHybrid work option availability, company culture, pre-existing office layout.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Longitudinal design allows for tracking changes over time.
+Combines quantitative and qualitative data for a richer understanding.

Limitations

The findings might be specific to the company culture studied and may not apply to all organizations.

Reliability & validity

The longitudinal nature and mixed-methods approach enhance the study's validity. Reliability would depend on the consistency of questionnaire responses and focus group interpretations.

Think critically

To what extent can the negative impacts of reduced personalization and workstation attachment be mitigated through other design interventions or organizational policies in a shared desk environment?

Design Principles

"The design of shared workspaces should acknowledge and address the human psychological need for territoriality and personal connection to physical space."

This research highlights the psychological impact of office redesign, specifically the shift away from permanent workstations. Understanding these effects is crucial for designers and organizational leaders to mitigate potential negative consequences on employee well-being and productivity.

What This Means for Your Design

When offices switch to desks that everyone shares, people tend to personalize their space less and feel less connected to a specific desk.

How to use in your project

1.Use this research to justify why considering psychological factors like personalization is important in your design proposal for a workspace.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This study by Frankó, Erdélyi, and Dúll (2022) found that shared desk environments significantly reduce employees' ability to personalize their workspace and their attachment to a specific workstation. This highlights the importance of considering psychological factors such as territoriality and place attachment when designing office spaces, as these elements can influence employee well-being and their connection to their work environment.

Source

Journal of Corporate Real Estate

Transformation of the office: territorial behaviour and place attachment in shared desk design

journal · 2022

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about shared desks reduce personalization and workstation attachment?: When designing or implementing shared desk systems, anticipate a reduction in personalization and workstation attachment, and consider alternative ways for employees to feel a sense of place and ownership. Evidence: Journal of Corporate Real Estate (2022).
Why does "Shared Desks Reduce Personalization and Workstation Attachment" matter for design?: This research highlights the psychological impact of office redesign, specifically the shift away from permanent workstations. Understanding these effects is crucial for designers and organizational leaders to mitigate potential negative consequences on employee well-being and productivity.
How can designers apply this research?: When designing or implementing shared desk systems, anticipate a reduction in personalization and workstation attachment, and consider alternative ways for employees to feel a sense of place and ownership.
What were the main findings?: The degree of personalization significantly decreased across the entire employee population, not just for those losing permanent workstations.. Workplace attachment remained stable for the entire population.. Workstation attachment showed a significant decrease among employees who switched to shared desks.
What research method was used?: Quasi-experimental, longitudinal study using questionnaires and focus group discussions..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2022 journal from Journal of Corporate Real Estate.
What should I do differently in my next project?: Before implementing shared desk policies, conduct employee surveys to gauge current levels of personalization and attachment, and plan for alternative methods of fostering a sense of belonging.
What are the limitations?: The study is a case study with a relatively small sample size, limiting generalizability.