Men have done administrative work for many centuries. But it is not clear when the room where paperwork was created began to be thought of an office.[1] In the earliestEuropeanhistory it may have been a counting room in apalace, where some kind ofaccounting was done for theking. Earlier forms of keeping records were known but were not confined to a room or rooms. For example, in ancientChina string was knotted to keep count of things as arecord.[2] But the record-keeper's "office" was not a room but wherever he needed to be to count something.
In the earlyMiddle Ages manymonasteries had ascriptorium. This was a place where texts of all kinds were written and copied.[3] All of the work was done by hand.[4] This may actually be one of the first uses of a room as an office. TheHigh Middle Ages (1000–1300) saw the rise of the medievalchancery. This was usually the place where mostgovernmentletters were written and wherelaws were copied in the administration of akingdom.
With the growth of large, complexorganizations in the 18th century, actual office spaces wereconstructed. As theIndustrial Revolution grew in the18th and19th centuries, the industries ofbanking,rail,insurance,retail,petroleum, andtelegraphy grew dramatically. A large number ofclerks were needed. As a result, more office space was needed for these activities. Thetime and motion study, pioneered in manufacturing byF. W. Taylor led to the “Modern Efficiency Desk” with a flat top and drawers below. This was designed to allowmanagers an easy view of theworkers.[5] However, by the middle of the 20th century, it became apparent that offices would need various degrees of privacy. Gradually thecubicle system evolved.[6]
The main purpose of an office is to support its occupants in performing their job. Work spaces in an office are typically used for conventional office activities such asreading,writing andcomputer work. There are also meeting rooms, lounges, and spaces for support activities, such as photocopying and filing. Some offices also have a kitchen area where workers can make their lunches. There are many different ways of arranging the space in an office and whilst these vary according to function, managerialfashions and the culture of specific companies can be even more important.
While offices can be built in almost any location and in almost any building, some modern requirements for offices make this more difficult, such as requirements for light, networking, and security. The primary purpose of an office building is to provide a workplace and working environment primarily for administrative and managerial workers. These workers usually occupy set areas within the office building, and usually are provided with desks, PCs and other equipment they may need within these areas.[7]
