Knowledge Sharing Behavior: The Role of Spatial Design in Buildings

TLDR

Knowledge sharing during spontaneous face‑to‑face encounters is essential for innovation, yet the influence of office spatial design on the behavior within such meetings remains largely unexplored. This study investigates how spatial variables—joint activities, location, intentionality, and issues addressed—affect employee behavior during unplanned knowledge‑sharing meetings. Data were collected through a one‑week diary of 138 employees in a research organization, yielding 918 recorded knowledge‑sharing meetings. Results show that behavior varies markedly at a very local level, with inter‑visibility and proximity most strongly linked to where knowledge is shared, while sharing a room and overhearing significantly influence how knowledge is shared.

Abstract

Knowledge sharing during unplanned face-to-face meetings between employees is indispensable for innovation-based organizations. Spatial design of office buildings has been proven to influence the number of meetings dyads have at work, but research on the behavior during such meetings remains scarce. This article analyzes how several spatial variables relate to employee behavior during such meetings (joint activities, location, intentionality, and issues addressed). A 1-week diary of 138 employees from one research organization provided data on 918 knowledge-sharing meetings. Analysis of the building layout showed that behavior is particularly different at a very local level within the building. Chi-square tests showed that inter-visibility and proximity are most strongly associated with where knowledge was shared, while sharing a room and overhearing related significantly to how knowledge was shared.