University Business Analytics: Open Plan Office Management Report

This report addresses a business problem related to open plan office management at Gallifrey Inc., using the self-determination theory as its theoretical framework. The report begins with an executive summary and an overview of the business problem, followed by a literature review exploring various research findings on office layout and employee productivity. It then delves into the self-determination theory, explaining its concepts and justifying its relevance to the business problem. The report includes a managerial decision statement, outlines the qualitative research method used, and presents the findings and analysis of the data collected. The report concludes with recommendations for the CEO to resolve the identified business problems, supported by a bibliography of relevant academic sources.

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Business Analytics

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Executive Summary
The aim of this report is to solve a business problem by using a theoretical framework
informed by empirical academic studies. Mainly, the report will concentrate on open plan office
management. The researcher will create a business report for the CEO of Gallifrey Inc. the self-
determination theory will be used in this literature review. The report will provide a statement of the
business problems from the symptoms presented in the case study. Also, the report will explain the self-
determination theoretical concepts in investigating the business problem facing this company. A
managerial decision statement will also be discussed in this report. An explanation of qualitative research
method and analysis will be done in the context of the problem at hand. Finally, the report will provide
recommendations which the CEO should employ to resolve the business problems.

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Table of Contents
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................2
Introduction: Overview of the Business Problems..........................................................................3
Overview of Literature....................................................................................................................4
Literature Review.........................................................................................................................4
Self-Determination Theory..........................................................................................................6
Justification of Theory.................................................................................................................7
Managerial Decision Statement...................................................................................................7
Method and Results.........................................................................................................................8
Qualitative Analysis.....................................................................................................................8
Method Used................................................................................................................................8
Findings and Analysis Presentation.............................................................................................9
Recommendations and Conclusions..............................................................................................10
Bibliography...............................................................................................................................12

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Introduction: Overview of the Business Problems
The output of employees may be closely influenced by the surrounding environment. A critical
factor which determines the productivity of the employee is a workplace environment and
conducive teamwork (Wray-Lake et al., 2019, p. 88). The third in the hierarchy of human needs
according to Maslow is love/belonging. Specifically, the environment in a workplace which
fulfills the passion and belonging needs of a person may promote productivity and create
motivation amongst the workers. People may desire and wish to work in a particular
environment based on the social and support mechanisms they have established or potentially
expect to create. In terms of the office productivity, the open plan office environment is
contended to be a factor for high producing employees due to the opportunities for interactions
and knowledge exchange (Wray-Lake et al., 2019, p. 90). Although the association with the low
productive employees can ultimately lead to the transition of laziness and assumption. The office
layout is the critical determinant towards motivational concepts of the employees. Business
founds a complicated situation in determining the office design singularly when owners are
keenly focused on individual personnel productivity. This paper will evaluate the concept of
open plan office keenly highlighting the theoretical assumptions related to the office layout.
Overview of Literature
Literature Review
Many researchers and scientist have conducted an empirical analysis of the concepts of office
layout. Their aim is reflective on the identification of the situatable office design for different
types of businesses. Different offices require some specifications in designing their office
interactions. Not all business requires office layout, but the core productivity activities determine
the ultimate idea of determining the office design (Lin and Liao, 2017, p. 655). The productivity

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of employees can be negativity or positively affected by office design. Generally, the human
being doesn't like to work. If allowed to earn without working, there will be no back on the
decision they make. Assuming the natural characterizes of employees, management and owners
should set a particular layout to promote productivity and discourage laziness. In many situations
like these, benefits and risks should be outlined in a specific manner to implement strategic
frameworks that work for the different organizations (Delen and Ram, 2018, p. 100). When an
organization grows, there comes a time for expansion of office which may require
accommodation of extra staff and other production machinery. Some ideas behind the
development are cutting down operation cost and serving customers in a better way, especially in
long run objectives.
According to the world group, the impaired emotional well being is one of the key influences
which lead to reduced job involvements in the workplace. The relationship between the
absenteeism from the workplace and psychology well-being of an individual is the fundamental
reason for the current problems faced in the business environment. Business can operate
maximumly if all of the issues arising from internal management control mechanism are well
addressed (Vidgen et al.,2017, p. 55). The success of the business relates to the ability of a
company to compete fairly and create a competitive advantage over the competing firms. The
Job Demand Control Mechanism introduced by Robert Karasek gives an outline of the health job
characterizes which rhymes with the well-being of the job-demand control as the essential job
influences. Demand and supply mechanism is applied in this concept especially in reducing the
well-being of the high strenuous jobs. In most cases determining the office, layout depends
exclusively on the number of employees in an organization.

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To determine and evaluate specific business challenges application of self-determination theory
will be essential. Self Determination theory is associated with human motivations, development
in terms of careers and financial capabilities and general wellbeing of an individual (Wray-Lake
et al., 2017, p. 99). The theory focuses on paying closer attention to autonomous motivation. It
tries to address the social conditions for that enhances the basic psychological needs hence
motivating employees. Many employees work under the concept of motivation by their
employers. The general characterizes of a human being is constrained in the motivation factor
especially in the workplace. The productivity of employees tends to decrease if the motivating
factors are withheld (Ryan, and Deci, 2017, p. 76). Self- determination theory investigates
individual people aspiration showing different relations especially the intrinsic and extrinsic life
performance goals of employees. The application of the self-determination theory can ultimately
create purposes related to management decision making. Office layout can discourage, and
individual performance since determination amongst the employees varies randomly.
Alternatively, many employees are self-motivated and therefore working in an open plan office
layout, may lead to demotivation which may finally lower their productivities (Halvari, Halvari,
and Deci, 2019, p. 300).
Self-Determination Theory
This macro-theory of the human incentive discourses fundamental issues as disposition
expansion and widespread aspirations of individuals. People have varied needs. Therefore, their
desire to work is closely related to the need capacity (de Jonge, 2009, p. 94). The old concepts of
motivation’s theories have treated motivation has a primarily unitary notion. I am concentrating
on the overall amount of inspiration that persons have especially for specific behaviors. The open
plan office layout has been related to the co-current employee motivation which can be

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associated with predicting the outcome in productivity. The abundant of research has currently
confirmed the initial ideas of motivation and job performance to be a sound idea. Ideally in an
open plan office layout motivation can be either autonomous or controlled motivation. In
autonomous motivation, the employee has self-determined goals to achieve within a set period.
In this case, the assumed case of self-senses is well applied as individuals identify with the
activity worth and ideally will have to integrate it into their intelligence of personality. This kind
of motivation enables the employees to maximumly produce high outputs (M.F. Dollard et al.,
2018, p. 9). workplace layout requires the grouping of employees, their gadget, and areas/offices
to offer for consolation, safety, and movement of facts. the main difference of office layout is the
significance positioned on the go with the flow of information. office layouts are in steady flux
because the technological trade sweeping society alters the way workplaces characteristic.
Moreover, controlled motivation is varied in contrast. In this case, one's behavior is the
autonomous influence on environmental output. An individual internal motive can impact the
surrounding environment as other employees thrive to achieve the same status.
Justification of Theory
This theory helps in determining the solution in a particular business environment.
Ideally solving employee’s motivation will eventually solve business problems. The critical
concept of the achievement of business goals is solving employees challenges first. Naturally, a
human being can perform well with a disturbed mind. If motivated they tend to become self-
determined in performance. In an open plan office employee’s secrecy is denied and therefore in
case of underperformance, the outlined identification is well stipulated (Deci et al.,2017, p. 6).
Working in the same room may lead to the social problems which arise as people interact,
therefore self-determination theory creates an ideal situation in solving minor issues which may

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affect business in its long-run goals. The approach highlights that most business problems are
driven by individual concerns. It's only through self-determination that people can solve business
problems. Motivation is the key to eradicating minor and also major business challenges.
Managerial Decision Statement
The ideal situation for the managers and managerial personnel in deciding g regarding the
research question and objectives is determined by the company’s position. Ideally, managers will
choose the best layout depending on the employee's motivations. The research objectives of
determining the ultimate goal in choosing office layout may strictly depend on the available data
regarding the employee motivations and self-determination (Delen and Ram, 2018, p. 10).
Managers can only make a decision depending on the employee key information’s and
companies’ environmental requirements. There are no ideal circumstances in which managers
can decide e without closer interaction with the employees and the environment.
Method and Results
Qualitative Analysis
To achieve the desired outcome, the research applied qualitative examination technique.
The qualitative examination uses individual judgment founded on available non -measurable
evidence such as organization knowhow, manufacturing cycles, an asset of research and growth,
especially in employment relations (Ryan and Deci, 2017, p. 44). The investigation method is
used to evaluate the company’s actions and assess its probably as a speculation opportunity It
deals with the intangible and inexact concerns rather than the mathematical concepts. It depends
on the intelligent which is ultimately non-applicable especially in a machine-based operation.
The physical interviews and questionnaires can be used in determining the desired results.

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Method Used
In collecting the data both oral and written interview was conducted. This mainly was
due to the reason that organizations employee was both healthy and disabled. The interview used
both the close-ended question and an open question. The highlights of the interview question
depended on the individual position and its concerns in a particular environment. The main
reason for the choice of the interview as a method of collecting data, it’s due to the immediate
feedback from the responses (Deci, Olafsen, and Ryan, 2017, p. 22). Giving an ideal situation
regarding the topic under investigations. Ideally, people have a different understanding of
concepts and therefore conducting an extensive interview about there knowledge might give
insufficient information about their positions and capabilities. The management concepts related
to the interview question was purely integrated with the set management goals and
organizational framework. An interview was conducted to the employees and senior managers
only.
Findings and Analysis Presentation
Most of the responses received from the interviews indicated that the open plan office is
recommendable especially for the larger organizations. Ideal situation exhibited during the
meeting is that the closer interaction between the workers generates more output in terms of the
productivity increase (Cao,2017). The main reason for organizations to seek open office
environment is to promote the benefits of creativity and teamwork. The leadership style
displayed in the public place layout is a trend in which encourages team building capacities
without regarding some individual as senior in a particular environment. Furthermore, many
responses especially the senior managers indicated that bringing people together help in
facilitating faster learning for the new employees, this is caused by the closer interaction between
the new employees and the other experienced employees (Halvari et al.,2019). The immediate

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feedback display in the open layout office promote fast and reduces minimal movements from
one office to the other. The ideas flow quickly especially in the brainstorming in a natural way
which supports and builds innovative ideas that companies are banking on it.
Interviews Open office layout Another Layout
25 junior employees 18 7
Ten senior Employees 9 1
From the above table, it indicates that 18 junior employees agreed with the importance of the
open plan office layout while only seven disagreed on the concept of the design. Basing their
argument of the importance of secrecy especially when handling sensitive information which
requires concentration. Out of 10 seniors, only one senior officer disagreed on the concept of
open layout basing its argument on the dedicated ideas in the open plan. From these analyses, it
is well evidenced that many people prefer free place layout depending on the environmental
setups and organizational basis.
Recommendations and Conclusions
Business problems are often opportunities which arise mostly during business operations.
A methodological approach can be used in developing the best business problems solving steps.
Based on the analytical investigation done, managers should first define the problem before even
thinking of addressing it (Vidgen et al.,2017). Before engaging employees in the environmental
concepts of an organization, closer evaluation on the employees’ character especially while
anticipating to work in an open place layout may be critical. Most of the business problems are
presented in a specific situation. Most of the problem may be short term especially when
employees are interacting in the working environment. It very essential for the manager to solve
minor issues in anticipation of eradicating future major business problems.

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Furthermore, identification on the grounds for decision making is an essential factor
Before deciding on the business problems closer evaluation of the alternative opportunities
especially the presented other types of office layouts. Solving business problem may take time.
Therefore directors and managers should evaluate various occasions based on their operating
environment. Open office layout may be the best type of office layout depending on the business
operations and employee’s acceptance of the changes. A manner-oriented format can
simultaneously cope with a huge kind of products or services. that is the conventional way to
assist a product differentiation method. it's miles the most green when making products with
specific requirements or while handling customers, sufferers, or clients with one-of-a-kind
wishes. A manner-oriented format is usually the low-extent, high-variety approach. in these job-
store surroundings, every product or each small organization of merchandise undergoes a distinct
collection of operations. A product or small order is produced by way of transferring it from one
branch to any other within the sequence required for the product.
The large advantage of technique-orientated layout is flexibility in device and hard work
assignments. The breakdown of 1 gadget, for instance, want now not halt an entire procedure;
paintings can be transferred to different machines within the branch. process-orientated format is
also mainly desirable for managing the manufacture of elements in small batches, or activity
slots, and for the production of a wide type of components in different sizes advert forms.
The negative aspects of method-oriented format come from the overall-cause use of the
system. Orders take extra time to move through the system because of tough scheduling,
converting setups, and particular material handling. similarly, trendy purpose equipment requires
high labor capabilities, and paintings-in-process inventories are better due to imbalances within
the production system. high exertions-skill needs also increase the desired degree of schooling

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and experience, and high work-in-procedure stages boom capital investment. Whilst designing a
procedure layout, the maximum not unusual tactic is to set up departments or work centers so
that you can limit the fees of fabric dealing with technique-orientated centers try and reduce
hundreds, or journeys, instances distance-related prices. The idea situation for selecting office
layout is purely determined by the environmental situation and employee characters.

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Bibliography
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pp.59-68.
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Halvari, A.E.M., Halvari, H. and Deci, E.L., 2019. Dental anxiety, oral health‐related quality of
life, and general well‐being: A self‐determination theory perspective. Journal of Applied Social
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Wray-Lake, L., DeHaan, C.R., Shubert, J. and Ryan, R.M., 2019. Examining links from civic
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