Activity-based working (ABW) is a much-discussed concept and there is no shortage of opinions about it. It is not always clear, however, what people have in mind when they talk about ABW. For example, it is often confused with the concept of an open-plan office, whereas ABW is actually a reaction to the lack of choice in open-plan offices. So this first part of the book aims to clarify what ABW isand what it is not. It also explains the concepts background, the underlying objectives and the main issues that may arise.What is ABW? A short history Related concepts Objectives What research says about ABW Issues and how to deal with them