Coworking space users
a literature review on characteristics, motivations and workplace preferences in urban and non-urban areas
Thomas Vogl (TU Delft - Real Estate Management)
Monique Hendrina Arkesteijn (TU Delft - Real Estate Management)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze and compare three dimensions of coworking space (CS) usage: user characteristics, motivations and workplace preferences, comparing the literature on urban vs non-urban CSs.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodological approach follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, known as PRISMA. Following the PRISMA checklist items, this study presents aspects from cross-sectional studies published over 13 years (2010–2023).
Findings
The research reveals user characteristics, motivations for choosing a CS and workplace preferences of users of urban and non-urban CSs. Even though user characteristics in urban and non-urban CSs appear similar, the literature highlights differences: studies on urban CSs often emphasize increased productivity as a motivator to rent a workplace in a CS. In contrast, literature on non-urban CSs focuses on the reduced time spent commuting. Furthermore, literature on urban CSs prioritizes affordability and neighborhood image, while users of non-urban CSs focus on service offerings and proximity to nature. These findings suggest that CS operators should tailor their value propositions based on location, with urban CSs emphasizing cost-effectiveness and non-urban CSs focusing on comprehensive services and natural settings.
Practical implications
The study’s findings provide a practical lens for understanding the differences between CS in urban and non-urban areas from a user perspective. The insights from this research could inform the evolution of workplace requirements and strategy adaptations, with particular relevance for CS providers and organizations with CSs as part of their Corporate Real Estate Management (CREM) portfolio.
Originality/value
The existing body of literature has yet to explore the workplace preferences of CSs in non-urban locations. As CSs grow in non-urban areas and their characteristics may differ from their urban counterparts, this study sheds light on an under-researched area. Furthermore, no study has investigated the literature on CS user preferences systematically and compared the perspectives of urban and non-urban CS users.
help_outline