# Grid best practices: primary workspace, avoiding sprawl

*Slack Consultant Study Guide · Grid Design · Last updated October 21, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/slack-consultant/grid-design/grid-best-practices-primary-workspace-avoiding-sprawl*

The grid design best practices a consultant teaches before showing options: an 80% primary workspace, the fewest workspaces that work, channels and multi-workspace channels before new workspaces, one org-wide announcements channel, clear workspace names and icons, social and external workspaces, and an agreed admin cascade.

- Certification: Salesforce Slack Consultant
- Exam section: Grid Design
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/slack-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Understand grid design best practices.

## What the exam expects

- Recite the five grid design best practices and apply the 80% primary-workspace benchmark with two or three workspaces per member.
- Recommend the minimum number of workspaces, and explain the drawbacks of workspace sprawl.
- Choose between a channel, a multi-workspace channel, temporary membership in a second workspace and a new workspace.
- Replace duplicate announcement channels with one org-wide default channel, and fix workspace confusion with naming guidelines and icons.
- Explain what social and external workspaces add, why shared-channel apps go on every workspace that shares the channel, and why the admin cascade is agreed up front.

Key terms:
- **Primary (home) workspace:** the workspace where a member spends 80% or more of their time.
- **Workspace sprawl:** workspaces created as substitutes for channels rather than out of necessity.
- **Multi-workspace channel:** a channel shared with several workspaces in an Enterprise organization (Enterprise Grid or Enterprise+ plan).
- **Org-wide channel:** a multi-workspace channel accessible from every workspace in the org.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Primary workspace target | 80% or more of a member's time | [Compare Grid Design Models](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/designing-a-slack-enterprise-grid/compare-grid-design-models) |
| Workspaces per member | Two or three on average, at most | [Compare Grid Design Models](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/designing-a-slack-enterprise-grid/compare-grid-design-models) |
| Number of workspaces | The minimum that meets users' needs; adding is easier than consolidating | [Design Workspaces on Enterprise Grid](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/slack-workspace-design/design-workspaces-on-enterprise-grid) |
| Collaboration inside one workspace | Use a channel in that workspace | [Consider Alternatives for Workspace Design](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/slack-workspace-design/consider-alternatives-for-workspace-design) |
| A few people need deeper access | Add them to the other workspace as long as needed, then review and remove | [Consider Alternatives for Workspace Design](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/slack-workspace-design/consider-alternatives-for-workspace-design) |
| Company-wide announcements | One org-wide channel, made default for all members | [Consider Alternatives for Workspace Design](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/slack-workspace-design/consider-alternatives-for-workspace-design) |
| Every workspace needs | A name, URL and icon; distinctive icons aid navigation | [Design Workspaces on Enterprise Grid](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/slack-workspace-design/design-workspaces-on-enterprise-grid) |
| Core workspaces | Open; restrict only workspaces with specific needs | [Compare Grid Design Models](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/designing-a-slack-enterprise-grid/compare-grid-design-models) |
| Apps and bots in shared channels | Install on all workspaces that share the channel | [Manage a workspace in an Enterprise organization](https://slack.com/help/articles/115005225987-Manage-a-workspace-in-an-Enterprise-organization) |

## Check yourself

- What benchmark tests whether a design causes too much context switching?
- Why start with the fewest workspaces?
- When should a few people be added to a second workspace instead of creating a new one?
- Why does an org-wide default channel beat an #announcements channel per workspace?
- What does a social workspace do for business workspaces?

## Sources

- [Compare Grid Design Models](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/designing-a-slack-enterprise-grid/compare-grid-design-models)
- [Design Workspaces on Enterprise Grid](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/slack-workspace-design/design-workspaces-on-enterprise-grid)
- [Consider Alternatives for Workspace Design](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/slack-workspace-design/consider-alternatives-for-workspace-design)
- [Discover Slack Enterprise Grid Design](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/designing-a-slack-enterprise-grid/discover-slack-enterprise-grid)
- [Run a Grid Design Workshop](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/validating-slack-enterprise-grid-designs-with-the-client/run-a-grid-design-workshop)
- [Manage a workspace in an Enterprise organization](https://slack.com/help/articles/115005225987-Manage-a-workspace-in-an-Enterprise-organization)
- [Manage multi-workspace channels](https://slack.com/help/articles/115004485887-Manage-multi-workspace-channels-on-Enterprise-Grid)
- [Manage workspace access in an Enterprise organization](https://slack.com/help/articles/115001915507-Manage-workspace-access-in-an-Enterprise-organization)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 13 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Slack Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams