Permanent space vs. hoteling

Some businesses have done away with permanent office space or cubicles. Instead, when an employee is in the office he or she registers for a place to sit and depending on availability gets a spot. Work or personal items that would have been kept in a permanent desk drawer may now be kept in a locker and moved to the temporary space each day. Colleagues who wish to find others may look them up on a website directory which lists the identification number of the cubicle or office which they are using that day.

The entire argument for hoteling, as this is known, is financial. Reduce your office real estate and save on the bottom line. However, what is lost from the top line in this structure? What is lost in terms of worker productivity and morale?