Socio-technical systems thinking and the design of contemporary workspace

Physical environments shape, constrain, and promote a range of behavioural and organizational outcomes. Top–down or efficiency-driven approaches to workspace design often lead to inappropriate design and the promotion of undesirable outcomes for employees. Socio-technical systems thinking is presented as a theoretical framework to guide holistic workspace design. This thinking promotes the joint consideration of workspace alongside other aspects of the organizational system, e.g. processes, culture, organizational structure, and helps account for the broader context. The value of systemic approaches to workspace design and associated organizational change is discussed, using innovations such as open-plan and activity-based working as examples.