Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between job type, workstation design features, and the self-reported individual performance, team participation and group effectiveness of office workers. A total of 62 workers in four job types located in four field sales offices of a US computer manufacturer provided data. Regression analyses tested three indexes of workstation design as independent variables, including: environmental control through adjustability of workstation features, layout of workstation interior to match job requirements, and quality of workstation storage. For professional sales staff, workstation layout predicted 22 percent of the variance in individual performance. Environmental control and quality of storage predicted 45 percent of the variance in group effectiveness. For computer technical professionals, the three dependent variables predicted 7 percent of the variance in individual performance and 9 percent for group effectiveness. Workstation layout predicted 18 percent of the variance in level of group participation. The findings suggest that it may be possible to develop workstation design criteria that leverage specific design features to enhance performance for particular job types.
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