The Action Office

Abstract

Several years of self-directed work experience in his own office resulted in the development and application by the author of a new approach to the design and arrangement of office equipment, and a resulting increase in alertness, productivity, and fluency in his work. These outcomes led to an association with Herman Miller, Inc. in 1960 to conduct research to obtain more definitive and conclusive information on how office elements influence the office worker, and how these elements may be redesigned to improve health and productivity. This effort involved four major aspects-actual experience with prototype offices and equipment, obtaining information from pertinent disciplines, studying office patterns of exceptional performers, and testing and evaluation of office environments. The study results indicated that most prevailing offices and furnishing systems are substantially too restrictive and inflexible, and tend to ignore and stifle prime human capabilities. However, there are indications of an awakening to the importance of new office facility concepts in meeting the growing needs of day-by-day change and modifications of environmental effect.