This is a rapid evidence review using a realist inquiry approach to identify the effects of openplan offices on collaboration in North American corporate environments. The rationale for this review
is more than 75% of North American offices utilize open-plans, and, thus, need to understand the openplan office design and its impact on employee collaboration. Theory states open-plan offices remove
barriers to communication and fosters collaboration. Research concludes certain contextual attributes of
the open-plan office hinder rather than foster collaboration. Through a transparent search and synthesis
of literature, the review indicates underlying mechanisms of control and aesthetics and contextual
situations of privacy, the ability to personalize space and biophilic design facilitates higher employee
satisfaction with the open-plan office and in turn fosters more employee collaboration. A limitation of
this review is the sample size of the literature, thus, is it is unknown if the recommendations are
applicable to all job categories or functions or if these conclusions would be reached with a full rapid
evidence review.