Purpose -The aim of this paper is to provide a validated theoretical framework for the measurement of office productivity. Design/methodology/approach -The study's strength is that it is based on two sizable data sets. The data collected consists of data about the physical characteristics of the office environment and data pertaining to the behavioural environment. Findings -One of the key contributions of this study was the development of the components of office productivity, which were: comfort, office layout, informal interaction points, environmental services, designated areas, interaction and distraction. The components were reduced to four in preparation for subsequent analysis. The four distinct components were comfort, office layout, interaction and distraction. Originality/value -This study establishes that it is the behavioural environment that has the greatest impact on office productivity. It demonstrates that it is the dynamic elements of the office environment, interaction and distraction that are perceived as having the greatest positive and negative influences on self assessed productivity.

PurposeThis paper aims to establish if office occupiers, who adopt different work patterns, can be segmented based on differences of perceived productivity with regards to the physical environment and the behavioural environment.Design/methodology/approachComponents of office productivity were used in an office productivity model with categorical data enabling a unique opportunity to undertake an analysis of office occupiers by work process type.FindingsThe four distinct evaluative components used were comfort, office layout, interaction and distraction. The components were subsequently used for more detailed statistical analysis. This study establishes that statistical differences exist between the work styles under investigation.Research limitations/implicationsThis research establishes that to truly appreciate office productivity there is a need to further understand the way that people work in offices and their specific requirements. The matching of office occupier need with space provision can only be achieved if the office occupier is involved in the creation of the office solution.Originality/valueThis study demonstrates that there is a need to consider how the office environment matches the work patterns of the office occupiers. This understanding of how the office works could be considered as establishing the office landscape or “officescape”.

Abstract:Purpose -The aim of this paper is to evaluate the impact that office comfort has on office occupiers' productivity.Design/methodology/approach -The author evaluates the literature that claims to make a linkage between the physical comfort of the office environment and the effect on the productivity of the office occupiers. Office comfort will initially be discussed as a generic concept and subsequently be broken down into subcomponents.Findings -The review of the literature reveals that the evaluation of office comfort is a complex one. There appears to be no universally accepted definition of office comfort, and there is a clear lack of agreement as to how office comfort should be measured.Originality/value -This paper establishes that there is enough evidence to support the claim that office comfort can affect productivity. This paper adds to the debate by identifying the need for a common and universally accepted measurement of office comfort. It is proposed that this can largely be achieved by evaluating office comfort with a multi-item scale, and adopting an office occupier perspective to any future research.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a validated theoretical framework for the evaluation of office productivity, which includes components to represent both the physical and the behavioural environment. It is proposed that by adopting such an approach, insights into the dynamic nature, or connectivity, of office environments can be established. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the effects of the office environment on its occupants' perceived productivity.Design/methodology/approachThe study's strength is that it is based on two sizable data sets. The data collected consists of data about the physical characteristics of the office environment and data pertaining to the behavioural environment.FindingsResults are analysed for specific work patterns, to establish meaning and relationships. In all of the four work patterns evaluated it was found that interaction was perceived to be the component to have the most positive affect on productivity and distraction was perceived to have the most negative. It is proposed that the results in this paper will provide support for the hypothesis that it is the behavioural components of the office environment that have the greatest impact on office productivity.Research limitations/implicationsThis research establishes that to truly appreciate office productivity there is a need to further understand the behavioural environment. Whilst this research evaluates different work styles and office productivity, there is a possibility to extend this to investigate personality and team role types.Originality/valueThis study establishes that it is the behavioural environment that has the greatest impact on office productivity. It demonstrates that it is the dynamic elements of the office environment, interaction and distraction that are perceived as having the greatest positive and negative influences on self assessed productivity.

Purpose -The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the role the behavioural environment plays in office productivity. Design/methodology/approach -The paper reviews the literature from the occupier perspective. This approach enables a greater appreciation of the social context of offices. The review establishes the need to link work process with the office environment. It identifies the need to understand how occupiers make sense of space through personalisation. The balance between the positive interactions in the office and negative distractions are explored. Findings -The review of the literature reveals that by adopting the occupier perspective potential tensions can be identified between individual, private and team-based collaborative work areas. These tensions can have an impact on the office occupier's productivity. Originality/value -This paper establishes that to ensure office environments are designed for optimum productivity; consideration needs to be given to the role of the behavioural environment. Office environments need to be designed to enhance collaboration, whilst at the same time ensure individual private work is not compromised.

Purpose -The aim of this paper is to evaluate approaches to the measurement of office productivity. Design/methodology/approach -The author presents an historical context to office design and reviews appropriate literature. The review aims to establish the limitations in defining office productivity and the range of approaches to its measurement. Findings -The review of the literature reveals that there is no universally accepted means of measuring office productivity but the researchers that have produced the most research evidence have tended to adopt a self-assessment approach. Originality/value -This paper establishes that the "people-centred" approach to office evaluation is most appropriate for office workers with varying job tasks and allows the end-user or occupier perspective to be established.

Abstract:Purpose -The aim of this paper is to evaluate the impact office layout has on office occupiers' productivity.Design/methodology/approach -The author evaluates the literature that claims to make a linkage between office layout and the affect on office occupiers' productivity. Two main themes are developed. Firstly, the literature that links office layout to work patterns is evaluated, and secondly the open-plan versus cellular office debate is developed.Findings -The review of the literature reveals that the connection between the three major components of office layout, office occupier work patterns and productivity is not clearly established.Originality/value -The paper establishes that there is a requirement to link together office layout to the work patterns of office occupiers. It is only when the connection is made between the office layout and office occupiers work patterns that productivity gains can be achieved. To support the different work patterns undertaken the facilities manager can create office environments that consist of a balance between private space as well as communal shared space. The amount of balance will be very much dependent on the mix of work patterns in the office.

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to explore workplace implications of the changing workforce demographic.Design/methodology/approach: The author identifies the different generations in today's workforce. The workplace expectations of the different generations are explored.Findings: Corporate real estate managers need to establish the different needs of the different generations. In addition the corporate real estate manager needs to create an environment that allows all generations to coexist in the same workplace.Practical Implications: Corporate real estate managers can use the information to assist in alignment of their workplace to the different generational expectations of the workforce.Originality/Value: The paper fills a void by evaluating office occupiers workplace preferences based on age.