Are Collaborative Workspaces Good for Startups?

A newer trend in office design has been to create either open or collaborative workspaces. Collaborative workspaces are offices design to emit a free-flowing and sharing environment. Sometimes they are reserved to one company and other places may be a central hub for a group of like-minded professionals to gather and do work together. Some of the benefits listed in favor of collaborative workspaces is that is foster collaboration and productivity. On the other hand, they are also criticized for impeding productivity with noise and chatter. What do you think about collaborative workspaces? 

A recent Forbes article had a few thoughts for them:

There’s more to innovation than finding clever people and throwing them into a conference room in hopes that game-changing collaboration will follow. Today, to drive innovation and attract the best talent, it’s crucial to create workspaces that cater to diverse forms of collaboration.

In the same article, writer Sarah Miller listed four collaborative office qualities and how they foster innovation and teamwork.

- Space that is flexible: Workspace that is movable and reconfigurable supports spontaneity. Flexibility can come in the form of mobile furnishings, roving white boards, or even architectural elements like sculpture that allow users to configure the space to their immediate needs. Example: Google. 

- Space that inspires: Natural lighting and exterior views stimulate and sustain creative thinking. One factor linked to innovation edge is an ability to imagine and visualize the future. Spaces that contain fantastical images and access to technology tools help employees construct new scenarios for markets, products, and services are key in this endeavor. Example: Facebook. 

- Space for small teams: The best collaborative work is done by teams of 2 – 8 people. Cozy spaces located near an individual’s dedicated work area are ideal for small team gatherings, and encourage frequent use. These spaces need to offer full connectivity, too. Example: Groupon

- Space that reflects culture and brand: In a global economy, recalling that the work you’re doing in one geography impacts customers in other geographies is paramount. Connecting employee efforts to pride in past success creates engagement and a willingness to drive future change. Displays of existing products or collective achievements also inspires pride and risk-taking. Read the full article here.

In Pittsburgh, there are a few collaborative workspaces that are not central to a particular company. One of those is called The Hardware Store, a co-working office space where professionals can work with other professionals. The group is holding a Fall Picnic and Pitch Fest at its headquarters on September 18 that entrepreneurs may want to check out.