The Effect of Environmental Factors on Staff Productivity in Office Space; Case Study: Information Technology Companies of Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.A. of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Architecture, Islamic Azad University, Gonbad Branch, Gonbad, Iran

2 Assistant Professor of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Islamic Azad University, Gonbad Branch, Gonbad, Iran.

Abstract

Growing productivity and interaction between employees are of the most important goals discussed in the office design phase. Most of the studies regarding the relationship between office space and productivity are concerned with physical conditions in the workplace. But, when examining the factors affecting office productivity, the variables that represent both the physical environment and the behavioral environment should be considered. Studies have shown that improving physical (layout and comfort) and behavioral (interaction and focus) conditions of the workplace increase productivity. The most important aim of this study is to understand the relationship between these variables through a questionnaire to more closely examine the effect of environmental factors on productivity in office spaces. The effects of gender, education, and job position are also investigated in the study of the effect of these variables on productivity. The questionnaire consists of four main sections: “personal information and general information on the workplace”, “working patterns”, “design variables” and “perceived productivity”. Based on the obtained data, collected from 384 respondents from 10 IT companies, four variables of focus, comfort, interaction, and layout are the most important design factors affecting staff productivity in office space, respectively. Data analysis showed that comfort and interaction were more effective for women than men. It was also found that the academic degree of the staff influences the effectiveness of design variables on their productivity, while their job status does not.

Keywords

References

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Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development
Volume 12, Issue 29
March 2020
Pages 113-124

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History

  • Receive Date: 31 May 2017
  • Revise Date: 29 November 2017
  • Accept Date: 26 December 2017

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