Office Layout:

The arrangement of office equipment and furniture within the available floor space is

called layout. The preparation of office layout is important task of office management. It

is describe as the arrangement of all physical component to provide maximum

effectiveness and coordination of these components into an efficient and attractive unit.

The arrangement of departments and office equipment will be done to utilize office space

effectively and profitably. Office layout is termed as space planning for effective

utilization of the available limited resources. The above definition of office layout state

the existence of following features.

It is systematic and scientific arrangement of available spaces

It fixes up the right amount of space for each employee, machine and equipment.

It provide best possible office environment

Types of Office Layouts

There are four types of office layouts;

Proximity:

Accessibility to co worker and supervisors can enhance communication and develop

mutual interest. Conversation tends to become more formal.

Recent study confirms that proximity can help clarify what is expected on the job in other

ways.

Privacy:

Another key factor in office design and culturely dependent is privacy. at Sperry rand and

Mc Donald world headquarter apply reaction to open office were favorable.

Options:

In Office layouts providing both proximity and privacy for employee poses a dilemma for

management.

Management must generally arrived at compromise between approximate and privacy no

single type of space fits all workers For example, Microsoft in red Mond Washington

found that software developer do their best work in Private quiet space but it sales and

marketing people work in mixture and open spaces

Activity Setting:

Represent a relatively new concept for Achieving both proximity and private the full

range of work need is covered by multiple worked places, including library and

teleconferencing facility.

More and more employees work at home are in neighborhood office connected to the

main office by computer this approach represent a modern day version of cottage

industry that existed prior to the industrial revolution