Mobile Group Address and Knowledge Sharing: Evidence from Activity-Based Working in a Japanese Firm

抄録

This study examines how office space and its utilisation policies influence knowledge sharing among employees in a Japanese company, focusing on the unique operational model of introducing mobile Group addresses, which involves forcibly changing the location of Group addresses in activity-based working (ABW). Group addressing is a unique approach commonly seen in Japanese companies that have adopted open-plan office layouts, allowing employees to freely select their seats within a broadly designated workspace assigned to their department (group). A new office policy was implemented involving the introduction of a mobile Group address for 587 employees at the headquarters of a large Japanese firm (Company A). Two questionnaire surveys were conducted before and after the introduction of the new policy, and responses were obtained at both time points from 224 employees. Statistical analyses using t-tests and paired t-tests were employed to test the hypotheses on knowledge sharing. The frequency of inter-group knowledge sharing during a Group address in the ABW system varied depending on the use of communication spaces, which are open areas that can be used without prior booking for meetings or discussions involving a few people. While the introduction of a mobile Group address did have a measurable effect on inter-group knowledge sharing, the effect was limited and dependent on prior communication space utilisation patterns.