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 pro v i d e m a x i m u m 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 spacee f f e c t i v e l y a n d p r o f i t a b l y . O f f i c e l a y o u t i s t e r m e d a s s p a c e p l a n n i n g f o r e f f e c t i v e utilization of the available limited resources. The above definition of office layout statethe 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 developmutual 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 andMc 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 nosingle type of space fits all workers For example, Microsoft in red Mond Washingtonfound that software developer do their best work in Private quiet space but it sales andmarketing people work in mixture and open spaces

Activity Setting: Represent a relatively new concept for Achieving both proximity and private the fullr a n g e o f w o r k n e e d i s c o v e r e d b y m u l t i p l e w o r k e d p l a c e s , i n c l u d i n g l i b r a r y a n d teleconferencing facility.More and more employees work at home are in neighborhood office connected to them a i n o f f i c e b y c o m p u t e r t h i s a p p r o a c h r e p r e s e n t a m o d e r n d a y v e r s i o n o f c o t t a g e industry that existed prior to the industrial revolutio

ADVANTAGE
A recent study by Knoll cited the following as advantages of open office layouts:

Most appreciate the sense of community that an open work environment can support. Open space allows for better communication and exchange of information among coworkers. It is easier to ask each other questions in an open environment. Some employees prefer being among other people, not wanting to feel closed in or all alone. The open work environment allows some to know whats going on in the office being in the know.

The study also noted advantages of private offices, which can essentially be seen as identifying potential disadvantages of open office design:

90 percent of participants reported that privacy is the number one benefit of a closed space/work environment.

The idea of having walls around you, keeping roving eyes from drifting over to your work and your space makes some feel more secure.

Another key benefit of working in a closed space is the reduction in noise. For some, an enclosed space also translates into a larger amount of floor space which is seen as a perk.