Outcome-driven workplace design: Evolving activity-based working

As organisations navigate the evolving demands of the modern workplace, the search for an optimal work environment that enhances productivity, collaboration and employee satisfaction remains a top priority. While activity-based working (ABW) has provided flexibility by allowing employees to choose workspaces based on tasks, its limitations — such as choice fatigue, lack of guidance and inefficiencies in space utilisation — have highlighted the need for a more structured approach. Using the results collected during a post-occupancy evaluation conducted 12 months after implementation at a global accounting firm’s 250,000ft2 corporate headquarters, this paper introduces intentional-based working (IBW), a refined model that builds on ABW by emphasising purposeful workspace design, outcome-driven decision making and strategic alignment between employees’ tasks and their work environments. IBW ensures that workspaces are intentionally designed to maximise both efficiency and effectiveness, balancing employee needs with organisational objectives. By leveraging data-driven insights, IBW fosters greater productivity, enhances employee engagement and aligns workplace design with business outcomes. This paper explores one company’s transition from ABW to IBW, outlining key principles, implementation strategies and measurable benefits. Real-world applications — including improvements in meeting room efficiency, focus spaces, time and space adjacencies and structured flexibility — demonstrate IBW’s impact on workplace optimisation. As the future of work demands greater agility and intentionality, IBW offers a sustainable and effective framework for organisations striving to enhance workplace performance. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.