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Blog - Workplace Trends
Technology Has a Big Impact on Workplace Design
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April 2,2008
Do Offices Reflect our Society’s Culture?
What does office furniture say about the society we live in? This may seem like an odd question, and you might wonder what, if anything, office furniture has to do with society or culture. But the office you’re working in is, in a way, a reflection of your company’s culture, and to a certain extent, American culture.
I’ve been working in Germany for the past three months, and in that time, I’ve found that the offices here reflect a different mind set when it comes to business culture. German offices (and European offices in general), are much more utilitarian and sparse than American ones. Heavy, traditionally-styled wood furniture is essentially non-existent in European offices.
I showed several of my German colleagues what typical American office furniture looks like by having them page through a National Business Furniture catalog. They couldn’t believe the large, wood desks with ornate detailing; the plush leather chairs with tufted backs and seats; or the predominance of dark finishes. This was furniture reserved for the best corners of their homes, not for the corner offices of their companies.
Not that all furniture in American offices share these characteristics. Many American businesses have high-design furniture with cutting-edge style favored by Europeans. The difference is that office furniture in America reflects a wide swath of styles, whereas European office furniture comes almost exclusively from minimalistic, contemporary style. Furniture also plays a role in designating status in American corporations while in Europe, it does not. Why the difference?
Furniture within a typical American company usually varies in quality or style based on an employee’s position. A European office, on the other hand, is much more uniform. A German executive is likely to sit at the same style desk as one of his or her employee’s. In fact, many German managers share a common office space with their subordinates. In America, a climb up the corporate ladder is usually accompanied by loftier furniture and a better view. Though Germans have a very strong business hierarchy, furniture or office location does little to reflect one’s actual status.
Status also comes into play when looking at varying styles of furniture. An executive, lawyer or doctor trying to establish a look of success in his or her office will often turn to traditional furniture with its rich tones and heavy form. The warm yet commanding look of traditional furniture has the ability to project success the same way a high-end suit or a luxury car can. In Germany, where processes and efficiency are valued more than materialistic trappings, a luxurious office would seem impractical and even presumptuous. Instead, Germans prefer high-quality, no-nonsense furniture that promotes efficiency.
American individualism could be another explanation for the difference in business furniture. Self-expression is ingrained in the American psyche. Whether it’s with pictures, artwork or the furniture itself, American offices often provide glimpses of the people occupying them. In Germany, where individual expression takes a back seat to social norms, offices tend to be more egalitarian. Think of it as conformity trumping individuality – a common theme in German culture.
Paging through a European office furniture catalog or website, you’ll see that uniformity is a common thread. The furniture selection is dominated by neutral tones and clean lines. Personal file cabinets (so common in American offices) are not offered in abundance. Instead, documents are more commonly placed in binders which are then stored in large cabinets. These cabinets tend to be shared by multiple employees, again reinforcing the idea of common space.
The differences go on. Obviously, some differences are just a matter of choice and have no bearing on cultural undertones. But it’s interesting that distinctions in culture show up in the most unsuspecting places – even in the office.
Posted by Dean
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