Space, behavior, and environmental perception in open-plan offices: A prospective study

Abstract

This prospective research study was conducted at a government office, which moved from an open plan office with somewhat enclosed workspaces to another open plan office with open workspaces. The study at the old office was conducted almost one year before the move, and the study at the new office was conducted more than one year after the move. The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) to measure and evaluate changes in patterns of accessibility and visibility due to changes in office layout, (2) to understand the effects of layout changes on observed behaviors, and (3) to determine the effects of layout changes on environmental perception. The study included the analysis of visibility and accessibility of each layout using space syntax techniques, field observations of behaviors, and questionnaire surveys of employees' perception of privacy, job satisfaction and commitment to organization. During field observations, movement, visible copresence (i.e., the number of people visible from a space) and face-toface interaction were observed along a predefined route in each office. Thirty-five people responded to the questionnaire survey at the old office. Out of 35, only 29 were available for survey at the new office. Based on the questionnaire survey data, three multi-item scales were constructed to measure perceived privacy, job satisfaction and commitment to organization. Results indicate better visibility and accessibility, increased face-to-face interactions, and improved perceived privacy at the new office. Results also show consistent effects of space on movement, and significant positive correlations between perceived privacy, job satisfaction and commitment to organization at these locations despite significant design differences. Implications of the research results and limitations of the research design are discussed.

Individual Control over the Physical Work Environment to Affect Creativity

“…As slugged by previous studies the role of environmental control is like a "lever" within an organization by which individuals, groups and firms can optimize their workspaces in order to serve their business goals (Paciuk, 1990, Sargent and Terry, 1994, Sargent and Terry, 1998, Veitch and Newsham, 2000. Open-plan offices is the most growing type of office design in today's industries are mainly famous because many employees are placed in a giant space and work individually or as a group; this situation can enhance their communication and creativity (Brennan et al, 2002;Rashid et al, 2009). Back to the nature of these types of office design they get a group of people with different needs working in same condition, therefore some ambient conditions which normally are flexible such as room temperature and lighting are fixed to a certain level without much opportunity to modify and personalise them.…”

“…In fact, distraction is a negative feature of the workplace often expected to be negatively linked to individual satisfaction with the work environment (Lee and Brand, 2005) and reduce their moral and performance (Jahncke et al, 2011;Rashid et al, 2009). The main reason behind distraction in open-plan offices is backed to lack of personal control over ambient conditions.…”

“…Due to lack of privacy, the amount of social interaction and communication between co-workers may go beyond the optimum level and employees might feel crowded and difficult to concentrate. Lack of privacy and uncontrollable working condition affect employees through decreasing their concentration, increasing stress (Rashid et al, 2009) and inclination to work in private rooms (Lee and Brand, 2005). So, as suggested by previous studies environmental distraction as a negative feature of uncontrollable environment in open-plan offices is expected to be negatively associated with individuals' satisfaction with the physical work environment (O'Neill, 2008;Brennan et al, 2002) and decrease their performance (Veitch et al, 2007;Roelofsen, 2008).…”

“…Satisfaction with work environment happened in situation when employees can meet their fundamental needs and can enhance their well-being and may positive mood and emotion (Choi, 2011;Lee, 2007;Rashid et al, 2009;Sundstrom et al, 1994;Veitch et al, 2007). Therefore since affection, feeling and emotions have a significant effect on individual creativity (Amabile et al, 2005;Fredrickson and Branigan, 2005), so satisfaction with work environment may have positive role to enhance individual creativity at work.…”

“…Compared to private offices, the amount of environmental distraction in open-plan offices are higher and more such as excessively noise, lack of privacy, presence of others, increased workloads, social setting problems and ambient conditions (Baldry and Barnes, 2012;Duval et al, 2002;Jahncke et al, 2011;Rashid et al, 2009;Banbury and Berry, 2005;Roelofsen, 2008). These problems and distractions are often suggested to reduce the end-users' satisfaction (both environmental and job satisfaction) (O'Neill, 2008;Lee and Brand, 2005), enhance physiological stress (Rasila and Rothe, 2012;Lee and Brand, 2010), reduce outcome including productivity and creativity (Davis et al, 2011;Elsbach and Pratt, 2007;Hua, 2007;Sundstrom et al, 1982;Davis, 1984;Carnevale, 1992;Baldry and Barnes, 2012;Lee and Brand, 2010;Miller, 2005) and increasing desire to work in private rooms (Lee and Brand, 2005).…”