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This paper briefly describes problems in the methodology of a 1994 World Health Organisation Study of Building Health in office workers. The advantages of the Works Canada Office User Satisfaction Survey instrument are described. The Works Canada Survey’s application to 16 regional Queensland Government offices is described in relation to its ability to target building maintenance and refurbishment related to occupant satisfaction and productivity. The article describes modifications made to the Works Canada instrument to adapt it to Australasian conditions, and also to introduce Building Health parameters. The paper describes its application to benchmark the performance of four of the University of Auckland’s office accommodation buildings. The benefits that facility managers can make from such a survey methodology are discussed.

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -The purpose of this paper is to describe the application of a new method using instruments with increased ability to objectively assess and quantify the performance impacts on office workers in built environment settings. Design/methodology/approach -A Distractibility Index (DI) was calculated for sample employees, who then used a computer-based instrument in two settings to evaluate cognitive impairment Findings -There was measured cognitive impairment in higher distracting work environments. There is potential to use DI to predict performance detriments and aid better workplace design/management. Research limitations/implications -The study employed only a small sample size. The level of noise and other distractions in the settings studied need to be measured objectively. There is a need to differentiate between various sources of distraction in terms of their impact on cognitive impairment. Practical implications -The findings of this paper can help to improve workplace performance, with less reliance on physical design solutions. Originality/value -Workplace performance evaluations typically use subjective measures and self-assessments. Modern work is increasingly cognitive, and hence new computer-based and more objective tools are required. The tool used in this research has been highly validated in other applications.

Engineering students engaged in product-based learning typically see what they have produced, but do not as easily see what they have learned. In a joint course between the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden and Stanford University, U.S., graduate students from each university worked in high performance designdevelopment teams on globally distributed scenarios for an industrial client. One of the difficulties of distributed teamwork is establishing team cohesion, trust, and credibility early in the project. Recognizing these challenges, an intervention engaging local "culture coaches" was implemented. Each coach served as a facilitator and interpreter of each team's similarities and differences with regards to local class culture as well as the social culture. In the study, the work of the culture coaches contributed to a more unified team identity and increased student awareness of learning in the design process and product.

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