The overall objective of this research was to improve the understanding of worker attitudes and perceptions toward different workspace types and workspace alternatives and how they are related to processes and activities native to a given organization. The specific goals of this study were: •The development of a methodology to assess workers attitudes toward different workspace alternatives for use in the planning stages of new offices. •Identification of workspace variables that affect perceptions and preferences regarding the alternatives based on the proposed units of analysis (individual, interpersonal relations, and organizational). This research consisted of mixed methodology. It was a cross departmental study of needs and preferences of workers regarding key variable and choices of workspace types and workspace alternatives. The main research instrument was a four stage web based survey. The secondary component was focus groups. By tracking these declared needs, preferences and choices regarding workspace types and workspace alternatives it was possible to identify if they associate with demographic information, work performance, and the proposed units of analysis, within a given organizational structure. This information provided a substantial knowledge base for decision makers in the planning stage of relocation of people, and the allocation of space processes. This study provided decision makers in the above mentioned processes a tested methodology that enables the development of a proactive approach to innovative workspace planning. The results are relevant to designers, managers and facility managers as it provides a perspective to understand or identify potential space and layout improvements in existing and future workplaces based on the core activities of any given organization. Such information will allow managers to make informed decisions about future workspace changes, as well as planning new workspace alternatives to continually support the organization’s objectives.

Actuellement, le développement du travail en mode projet, ainsi que le travail en réseaux, entraînent de profondes modifications dans la manière de concevoir les espaces de travail et les bureaux. Les entreprises qui conçoivent ces espaces associent souvent des architectes et des designers.La thèse a pour objet de répondre à la question suivante : comment les connaissances nouvelles sont elles générées dans les activités de conception relatives au domaine de l'aménagement des espaces de travail ?Le premier chapitre s'articulera autour des différents travaux relatifs aux activités deconception (travaux de Lebahar, Hatchuel et Visser, etc.). Le second s'intéressera aux différentes théories relatives à la génération des connaissances (travaux de Nonaka, Tsoukas et Engeström, etc).Afin de répondre à notre question de recherche, nous avons mis en place un dispositif d'observation de longue durée au sein des entreprises étudiées (approche de nature ethnométhdologique). Il s'agit de deux entreprises parisiennes spécialisées dans l'aménagement des espaces de travail: Génie des Lieux et Workspace CBRE.Nous avons montré que des difficultés d'intercompréhension apparaissent dans les activités de conception. Ces obstacles sont dûs à l'existence des connaissances tacites relationnelles au sens d'Harry Collins. Ces dernières peuvent être rendues explicites par la conception d'objets intermédiaires. Nous avons vu également comment la conception des artefacts en deux dimensions et en trois dimensions permet la génération des connaissances nouvelles et utiles dans un projet d'aménagement d'espaces de travail. / The development of this work is currently carried out in a project mode, since working in the network requires deep modifications in a way of conceiving the workspaces as well as the offices. The enterprises that conceive these spaces often associate both the designers and the architects.The purpose of this present thesis is to answer the flowing question: how are the recent knowledges generated in the conception activities which appear in the field of work space planning?The first chapter focuses on the works related to the conception activities (works of Lebahar, Hatchuel and Visser...etc...). The second deals with the different theories relating to the generation of knowledge (works of Nonaka, Tsoukas and Engeström... etc...).To answer our research question, we have installed a device which requires a long_term intervention inside the enterprises meant for study (ethnomethodological approach). There are two Parisian enterprises that specialize in work space planning: (GENIE DES LIEUX and workspace CBRE).During the work, we have shown some difficulty intercomprehension that emerged in the conception activities. We have concluded, as a result, that these obstacles were due to relational tacit knowledges (RTK) according to Harry Collins theory. However these difficulties can be made explicit by the conception of intermediate objects.We have also noticed that ho when conceiving the artifacts into two and three dimensions, this allows the generation of new and useful knowledges in a project of work space planning.