The impact of implementation approaches in activity-based workplace transitions: a mixed methods study in the Swedish public sector

Activity-based workplaces, implemented in conjunction with working from home, are likely to become more prevalent in the future. Research on these environments remains limited within public sector workplaces. This study employs a mixed methods design to examine transition processes to these environm...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pär Löfstrand, Stig Vinberg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311908.2025.2540062
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849246162399264768
author Pär Löfstrand
Stig Vinberg
author_facet Pär Löfstrand
Stig Vinberg
author_sort Pär Löfstrand
collection DOAJ
description Activity-based workplaces, implemented in conjunction with working from home, are likely to become more prevalent in the future. Research on these environments remains limited within public sector workplaces. This study employs a mixed methods design to examine transition processes to these environments in Swedish public sector workplaces. Employees from the same organization were drawn from two offices at different locations, both of which had transitioned to activity-based workplaces One group using a broad strategy served as the intervention group (N = 282, 79% women), while the other using an expert driven strategy acted as the reference group (N = 157, 84% women). The employees represented various administrative operations. Findings reveal that, when comparing employees in the intervention group with the reference group undergoing this transition, the former group outperformed the latter group. Participants in the intervention group rated the transition processes, workplace communication and support from managers during the processes and various organizational, social, and individual factors significantly higher than those in the reference group. Qualitative findings highlight both positive and negative expectations, as well as the risks and opportunities associated with activity-based and working from home environments. Implications regarding these environments are that a well-executed implementation process during organizational change is essential for achieving favorable process outcomes. Of importance is to ensure sufficient time for the transition processes and actively engage managers and employees throughout the process to foster positive outcomes.
format Article
id doaj-art-5ca5e7c9f0964570a5ec9942f371efd7
institution Kabale University
issn 2331-1908
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Cogent Psychology
spelling doaj-art-5ca5e7c9f0964570a5ec9942f371efd72025-08-20T03:58:35ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Psychology2331-19082025-12-0112110.1080/23311908.2025.2540062The impact of implementation approaches in activity-based workplace transitions: a mixed methods study in the Swedish public sectorPär Löfstrand0Stig Vinberg1Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, SwedenDepartment of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, SwedenActivity-based workplaces, implemented in conjunction with working from home, are likely to become more prevalent in the future. Research on these environments remains limited within public sector workplaces. This study employs a mixed methods design to examine transition processes to these environments in Swedish public sector workplaces. Employees from the same organization were drawn from two offices at different locations, both of which had transitioned to activity-based workplaces One group using a broad strategy served as the intervention group (N = 282, 79% women), while the other using an expert driven strategy acted as the reference group (N = 157, 84% women). The employees represented various administrative operations. Findings reveal that, when comparing employees in the intervention group with the reference group undergoing this transition, the former group outperformed the latter group. Participants in the intervention group rated the transition processes, workplace communication and support from managers during the processes and various organizational, social, and individual factors significantly higher than those in the reference group. Qualitative findings highlight both positive and negative expectations, as well as the risks and opportunities associated with activity-based and working from home environments. Implications regarding these environments are that a well-executed implementation process during organizational change is essential for achieving favorable process outcomes. Of importance is to ensure sufficient time for the transition processes and actively engage managers and employees throughout the process to foster positive outcomes.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311908.2025.2540062Activity-based workplacesworking from homeimplementation processespublic sectormixed-methods designSocial Sciences
spellingShingle Pär Löfstrand
Stig Vinberg
The impact of implementation approaches in activity-based workplace transitions: a mixed methods study in the Swedish public sector
Cogent Psychology
Activity-based workplaces
working from home
implementation processes
public sector
mixed-methods design
Social Sciences
title The impact of implementation approaches in activity-based workplace transitions: a mixed methods study in the Swedish public sector
title_full The impact of implementation approaches in activity-based workplace transitions: a mixed methods study in the Swedish public sector
title_fullStr The impact of implementation approaches in activity-based workplace transitions: a mixed methods study in the Swedish public sector
title_full_unstemmed The impact of implementation approaches in activity-based workplace transitions: a mixed methods study in the Swedish public sector
title_short The impact of implementation approaches in activity-based workplace transitions: a mixed methods study in the Swedish public sector
title_sort impact of implementation approaches in activity based workplace transitions a mixed methods study in the swedish public sector
topic Activity-based workplaces
working from home
implementation processes
public sector
mixed-methods design
Social Sciences
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311908.2025.2540062
work_keys_str_mv AT parlofstrand theimpactofimplementationapproachesinactivitybasedworkplacetransitionsamixedmethodsstudyintheswedishpublicsector
AT stigvinberg theimpactofimplementationapproachesinactivitybasedworkplacetransitionsamixedmethodsstudyintheswedishpublicsector
AT parlofstrand impactofimplementationapproachesinactivitybasedworkplacetransitionsamixedmethodsstudyintheswedishpublicsector
AT stigvinberg impactofimplementationapproachesinactivitybasedworkplacetransitionsamixedmethodsstudyintheswedishpublicsector