ABSTRACT
In order to understand the changing responses to workplace design there first needs to be an understanding of the developing nature of office organization. Michael Bedford and David Tong argue that since the origin of the 'office' there have been three main periods of development and we are now tentatively entering the third period. The first generation, they argue, developed from the administration of the church and state housed in the 'palace'. The second generation originated in support of manufacturing epitomized in the factory 'front office' and later became the office 'production line' to focus the flow ofinformation. Today we are entering the third generation with flat' hierarchies where the individual office worker, supported by technology, is maximizing time and space.
