In this series of articles, we are taking a look at how to build offices that
will minimize overheads while maximizing production. While this general principle
can be applied to any and all businesses, we all know that no business is quite
the same. Here, we are going to take a look at office designs that work best
for different types of companies.
Research and Development: The facilitation of free flowing thought
processes is at the heart of any research and development business, no matter
what industry it is in. This means that any office wherein R and D occurs will
have to harness the power of that type of energy. Appropriate office design
calls for open spaces that reflect the flow of the thought process, as well
as facilitating open communication. You can use some of the research and development
credit from your tax return to enhance this type of environment as well.
Design and fashion: A lot of businesses, both large and small, have found their
niche in the design market. Ladies casual clothing businesses, for example,
can be run by multi-national corporations or by individuals working out of their
homes. In either case, the key is to have enough room in the office for the
stock you carry and/or the designs that you come up with. Remember that the
office, where you plan and carry out the 'brain' business, is different from
the sales floor.
Sales: In some cases, the office may incorporate both the sales floor
and the area where records are kept as well. Sales businesses, such as those
earning cash for gold jewelry, keep their goods on display at all times. You
don't want to be stuck in a back office when a customer comes in, so a
nice open floor plan is probably the best way to go. Just remember that you
still need to separate the sales area from the business area; this can be done
through the use of kiosks, display cases, and other non-intrusive barriers.
Computer based businesses: One of the great things about business today
is that in many cases, it takes nothing more than a good computer to make a
profit. Whether you write for a living, own a lead generation company, or design
architecture, most of your work is likely done in front of your laptop or PC.
That means you can keep your office space fairly small, although with enough
room to feel comfortable. A nice size desk will accommodate most of your business
needs!
Manufacturing: Finally, there are the businesses which require the most office
space of all. It doesn't matter whether your company designs fairly small items
(such as those which engages a PCB designer) or large ones; ample space is always
required. That means that the office design has to include a large floor plan
that accommodates everything from conception to production. |