Visualization of “Product Status” and Work Status

Spatial Organization Methods and the Possibility of Participating in Collaborative Work

Abstract

This article analyzes the organization of the space dedicated to collaborative work shared by the staff, local volunteers, and users of the “hikikomori” and “NEET” support organization through social interaction. Specifically, this article analyzes the spatial formation practices of light work（assembling wiring harnesses for automobiles）in the office. The studied support organization locates this work as “the first step” toward participating in various activities（including job training outside of the office）. This article aims to analyze the methods of participation in the support space, focusing on those of users.

The findings are as follows. First, in the process of light work, each participant makes the status of the harnesses which are accumulated on the table（already aggregated “bunches” or unaggregated “heap” as of yet）visible to other participants in the situation where the table is crowded with the harnesses. Second, the visualization of each productʼs status also enables the visualization of the work status of each participant engaged in aggregation or assembly work, thus managing the boundaries of each workspace, which may otherwise overlap. These practices are, in the first place, aimed at avoiding mistakes in product aggregation. Conversely, the visibility of oneʼs work progress status functions as a device that enables other participants to participate in collaborative aggregation work. Finally, based on these findings, I consider the significance of the fact that multiparticipants work around a single table in the form of a user support space.