So what was an OFFICE?
Did you know that the modern word “Office” comes from the latin word “Officium” that has several meanings in Ancient Rome, including “service”, “(sense of) duty”, “courtesy”, “ceremony”, and “bureau” in the sense of a dignitary’s staff of administrative and other collaborators called “officialis” (hence the modern “official”).
A BIT OF HISTORY
The very FIRST OFFICE was developed in the 15th century. Clerical workers could gather for better efficiency and supervision.
1890s
But today’s office started in the 1880s with a SIMPLE OFFICE that included a TYPEWRITER and TELEPHONE.
1900s
REPETITION of desks and STANDARDIZED tasks by Taylor was the office trend. We received our individual workstations just like everyone else.
1920s
Growth of individual workstations and the office model lead to creation of DEPARTMENTS.
1930s
Advancements in LIGHTING of spaces meant that we could work longer and around clock.
1940s
In the post war environment, managerial changes resulted in the formation of task-groups and we were organized in CLUSTERS.
Abraham MASLOW‘s research found that improving social networks enhanced our morale, driving office design for our benefit.
1950s
We saw an improvement of WORK CONDITIONS so that productivity could rise and become more economical.
One of the results was the introduction of glass in offices, which increased eye contact, this also laid foundations for the creation of BUROLANDSCHAFT (Office landscape)
1960s
We saw an open office that encourages everyone to COMMUNICATE and COLLABORATE, but we got distracted….
1970s
Thanks to Robert Propsy who devised the ACTION OFFICE, we obtained more privacy.
1980s
But, from this period forth, we found ourselves surrounded by infinite “CUBICLE FARMS” that optimized efficiency.
TODAY
The office we have today. So how does this office make us feel?
Sometime we feel the need to EXPLODE.
INTERESTING FACT
Did you know that on average, children laugh about 400 times a day, while adults laugh only about 20 times a day?
We laugh a lot less than when we were little… perhaps we need a lot more to laugh?
We want to know how often you smile and our question for you is:
DO YOU THINK YOU’RE SMILING ENOUGH AT YOUR WORKPLACE?
1）Yes, I am the happiest person at my office！
2）I smile pretty often.
3）Maybe, I wish I could smile more.
4）Nope, I only smile to my boss.
5）I don’t have the smile muscles.
