Effect of a workplace design and training intervention on individual performance, group effectiveness and collaboration: The role of environmental control

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Robertson, Michelle M. | Huang, Yueng-Hsiang

Affiliations: Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, Center for Safety, 71 Frankland Road, Hopkinton, MA 01748 USA

Note: [] Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 508 497 0248; Fax: +1 508 435 8136; E-mail: michelle.robertson@libertymutual.com

Abstract: The effects of a workplace design and training intervention and the relationships between perceived satisfaction of office workplace design factors (layout and storage) and work performance measures (individual performance, group collaboration and effectiveness) were studied with 120 office workers using the Workplace Environment Questionnaire. Further, we examined whether environmental control had a direct effect on work performance, and then explored whether environmental control mediated or moderated the relationship between workplace design factors and work performance. Results showed a significant, positive impact of the intervention on environmental satisfaction for workstation layout. Satisfaction with workstation layout had a significant relationship with individual performance, group collaboration and effectiveness; and satisfaction with workstation storage had a significant relationship with individual performance and group collaboration. Environmental control had a direct impact on individual performance and group collaboration; whereas, the mediating and moderating effects of environmental control on the relationship between workplace design factors and outcome variables were not significant.

Keywords: Office ergonomics intervention, training, environmental control

Journal: Work, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 3-12, 2006