Analysis of factors influencing office workplace planning and design in corporate facilities

This article presents an assessment of the influential factors that space planners and design professionals must consider during the planning and design of office space in corporate facilities, so as to enable staff to perform their tasks as efficiently as possible. Published literature has been analyzed for the purpose of investigating the role of office space as an enabling resource and addressing the concepts of space planning and management in corporate organizations. The analysis was extended to synthesize the factors that influence the provision of office workplace. These factors were classified under three distinct groups. The article addresses the need for sustainable planning of the office workplace and the importance of reviewing the performance of the office workplace during the operation phase. A survey was administered to qualitatively assess the perceived level of importance for each of the identified factors by a sample group of space planners and design professionals. The findings of the survey were analyzed and reported to conclude on the significance of the identified factors. This article provides a practical value to space planners, design professionals and facility managers involved in the development, design and operation of office workplaces.