| Today, modular open office panel systems are | | | | of that topic in today's technology-pa ked |
| offered by a variety of manufacturers. Office | | | | offices. |
| managers and planners are confronted with a | | | | |
| bewildering array of designs and price | | | | 

A Look at Some Trends |
| options. Purchasing decisions have grown more | | | | |
| complex with the need to accommodate the | | | | Today, many businesses are spending more on |
| massive increase in intelligence being | | | | high technology office equipment than on |
| accessed by employees. The term | | | | industrial machinery. An office without a |
| "computer-intensive workspace" describes a | | | | computer is more the exception than the rule. |
| totally different environment than that of 30 | | | | Moreover, employees frequently have |
| years ago when a telephone, electric | | | | intelligent peripherals such as modems, |
| typewriter or shared word processing systems | | | | printers and fax capability in their own |
| comprised office technology. | | | | workspace, or if not, have access to shared |
| | | | facilities. Meanwhile, organizations where |
| Managing technology in the workspace has | | | | personnel spend a bulk of their time out of |
| become a science of its own. For example, | | | | the office are turning to alternative |
| there are standards that govern the design | | | | solutions such as "hoteling" to achieve two |
| and placement of voice, data and video | | | | objectives. One is to lower real estate cost; |
| cabling upon which employees depend for | | | | the other is to reduce the number of |
| high-speed Internet access, for file sharing | | | | workstations below the number of employees, |
| on their firms Local Area Networks (LANs) and | | | | who reserve space in advance when they're in |
| to communicate with other company locations, | | | | the facility. While these actions result in |
| customers and suppliers via intranets and | | | | efficient space utilization, they call for |
| extranets. | | | | greater flexibility in furniture and |
| | | | equipment to accommodate the changing needs |
| These concerns have become more critical with | | | | of the staff in an ad-hoc environment. |
| the introduction of the "fluid workspace." | | | | |
| Today's office floor plans are far from | | | | Companies are also reducing the average |
| static. Work areas expand, contract and | | | | amount of floor space per employee to |
| reconfigure to meet the ever-changing needs | | | | approximately 200 square feet today from 250 |
| of a business. | | | | in the middle of the 1990s, according to the |
| | | | Building Owner and Manager Association. Added |
| Modular office furniture and wall systems - | | | | to this is an increase in what is called the |
| and their cabling infrastructure - must | | | | corporate churn rate. The International |
| accommodate these Moves, Adds and Changes | | | | Facilities Management Association reported |
| (MACs) quickly, inexpensively and reliably. | | | | that the average corporate relocation rate is |
| Systems must be designed to conform to | | | | now 44%, meaning that in any given year, 44 |
| proposed OSHA standards related to health | | | | out of each hundred employees move within the |
| problems associated with intensive computer | | | | facility. |
| use, and to address work-related disorders | | | | |
| such as carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive | | | | Other trends relate to softer factors that |
| strain injuries. These conditions affect | | | | nevertheless can play a major role in the |
| millions of workers and cost companies | | | | ultimate success of an organization. Highly |
| billions of dollars in lost productivity and | | | | skilled workers will always be in demand, and |
| disability payments. For the most part, the | | | | because of that, have an influence on the way |
| office furniture industry has largely been | | | | offices look. Monolithic cubicles of |
| unresponsive to these dramatic changes in the | | | | "Dilbert" fame can act as a deterrent to |
| workplace. Many manufacturers are constrained | | | | attracting qualified personnel. Instead, |
| by obsolete product designs, marketing and | | | | forward-looking firms are installing office |
| distribution methods dating back to the 1970s | | | | systems that allow workers to put their own |
| and 1980s. | | | | signature on their workplace in terms of |
| | | | varying panel heights, the use glass panels, |
| This article takes a close look at modular | | | | marker boards, shelving and other |
| furniture systems and provides guidelines to | | | | accouterments. This new "residential" |
| help office and information technology | | | | approach to office design helps attract |
| managers make educated purchasing decisions. | | | | employees and make them feel more at home on |
| It will examine first costs and lifetime | | | | the job, instead of a numbered peg in a |
| costs of a system, cable management, | | | | monolithic hole. |
| ergonomics, construction details, lighting, | | | | |
| accessories, privacy, and other concerns | | | | will help business owners and operators make |
| impacting the purchasing decision. While the | | | | smart choices in Office Cubicles and Office |
| paper will broadly focus on cable management | | | | Furniture for their offices and selecting the |
| in office systems, a companion paper, "An | | | | right systems furniture.Smart and Beautiful |
| Introduction to High Performance Cabling | | | | Office Furniture. |
| Systems," provides a more thorough treatment | | | | |