What is an Office? Qualities of a good office layout

What is an Office?

An office is defined as a place, an apartment, a shop or a building set aside for carrying out business activities.

From the above definition, we can infer that the elements of management are conducted in an office. These elements of management include the following:

• Planning

• Staffing

• Organizing

• Directing

• Coordinating

• Control

• Reporting

• Budgeting

• Motivation

Meanwhile, recall that management is defined as the process of doing things and achieving the desired goals through the input of one or more persons.

Please read on management and its elements here.

Offices are crucial to the proper functioning of any organization. In this regard, different organizations, whether private or public have got their respective offices where administrative functions are carried out. ln addition, clerical works are also done in the office.

Please read on clerical staff explained with their grades and functions here.

It is worthy of note to state that individuals can have their own office. Such office can be located in their homes, or in a shop just along the road. For instance, I wrote this article in my home office, often referred to as SOHO (Small Office Home Office). In another instance, a kiosk where a Point of Sale (PoS) agent render financial services can also be appropriately called an office. Therefore, services are rendered in offices, and such rendered services may even be done online.

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The office isn't just an empty space. Useful tools, instruments and gadgets are always found in an office. These provides comfort to the workers, while also aiding them to efficiently perform their duties. Examples of such office tools include chairs, tables, air conditioners, fans, computers, printers, scanners, bulbs and so on.

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Offices can be categorized based on size and administrative structure. With regards to size, an office can be either small or large.

Examples of small offices include a barber's shop, point of sale (PoS) shop, information technology personnels who work remotely, online writers, and any other business that generates income from their respective location through the use of internet.

Please read on small office explained with its characteristics here.

A secondary school may be considered a large office. This is so because it typically contains more than ten workers, and will include office departments such as staff rooms, principal's office, bursar's office, security's office and so on. Other examples of large offices are post office, registry offices, customer care centers, shopping malls, banking halls and various government buildings.

Please read more on large office alongside their characteristics.

Qualities of a good Office Layout

Office layout refers to the orderly and systematic arrangement of everything in the office with regards to the available office space. It is crucial to the overall functioning of the workers.

A good office layout provides maximum efficiency and increased work output by the office personnels.

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Below are the qualities of a good office layout:

1. The office should be spacious enough. It should not be compacted.

2. Private offices should be made avilailable to senior executives. Confidential work demanding mental concentration are often carried out here.
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3. An office should be appropriately equipped with the tools and resources needed by the workers to efficiently carry out their duties.

4. A good office should provide a collaboration workspace to staff.

5. Adequately lightening, ventilation and cooling systems should be present in an office. Window blinds should be used instead of curtains.
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6. The office furniture should be designed in such a way that staff can be easily accessed and supervised.

7. The office should be flexible enough to accommodate some additional staff and equipment if the need arises.
   Please read on the advantages and disadvantages of large office here.

8. A good office should have recreational and rest areas.

9. The office should be properly decorated. This can motivate the workers by enhancing their creativity and inspiration. For instance, the interior colors of the office may motivate the mood of the staff.
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