In the 90s, within the realm of software development, the term "agile" emerged to describe a project management methodology based on flexibility in the face of change, with the goal of making processes more efficient.
In recent years, the concept has evolved to encompass a broader approach to the way we work: an agile office includes shared and multipurpose spaces that offer employees the freedom to decide when and where to work. From the outset, these environments are designed to be flexible, allowing workers to move freely and use the space that best suits their objectives.
What are the key elements of an agile workspace?
Open-plan spaces
Ideal for the talents every company wants to retain: creative, collaborative, and constantly communicating teams.
Quiet zones
Since not everything is about interaction, these areas are essential for focusing and completing tasks that are done more efficiently without people talking around.
Break areas
Comfortable places where everyone can take a break to eat something without a screen in front or have informal, relaxed meetings.
Resource areas
The spot for printers, office supplies, and brief chats with colleagues you don’t usually work with.
Contact spaces
Designed for quick, productive tasks, these areas are adaptable so each employee can set up their temporary workspace. They can range from a desk with a stool near the entrance to a small room where you can call upon the gods of inspiration, isolated from the rest of the office.
Why are agile workplaces a trend?
For companies, agile offices provide the opportunity to use space more efficiently, allowing them to save on the costs of unused areas. For workers, they offer the benefits of inhabiting spaces designed to meet all their needs.
Why have agile and flexible workspaces?
Implementing agile and flexible workspaces reflects an organizational culture that values trust, autonomy, and respect for the individual needs of employees. This can strengthen employees' sense of belonging and commitment to the company. Additionally:
They promote collaboration and creativity:
without physical barriers, interaction and
the exchange of ideas are both
inevitable and productive.
They increase employee loyalty:
sometimes flexibility in work location
and hours is more valuable than salary,
especially in the local context.
They optimize space:
reducing wasted space and the costs
associated with unused areas.
They enhance employee satisfaction and
productivity: employees can handle their
workload more effectively in a space that
supports and fosters their autonomy.
What if your offices are not yet agile or flexible?
If they weren't designed that way from the start, agility and flexibility cannot be achieved overnight.
“If offices were not originally designed to respond quickly and efficiently to the changes proposed by today's work environment, the adaptation must be gradual, without losing sight of commercial objectives,
”
says Julián Peña, broker at Cushman & Wakefield Argentina.