Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2002
Abstract
You can find literature that discusses organizational culture and it's impact on success in business and office environments. A number of scholars have looked at the relationship between measured space from desk to desk and employee satisfaction (Oldham et al. (1991), and Keller (1986). Some have looked at the impact cubicles have had on the productivity of office workers. Throughout the last century, office design experts and consultants have recommended a wide range of ever-changing spatial schemes designed to increase the productivity of employees and minimize wasted time and informal dialogue. This ethnographic view of what goes on in office spaces will present some notions not totally apparent in the existing literature. Many of the insights gained from these participant observations and phenomenological interviews suggest a series of events and principles hard to distill from statistical research. It will show that much of what occurs to increase productivity is informal but could have significant impact on employees, their passion for work and the dynamics that drive their effectiveness. This paper first explores how individuals create their own space for personal motivation and comfort. It then examines how individuals connect with a variety of subcultures within their organization. The observations conclude by suggesting how these subcultures come together or not in common areas shared by all employees and even the public.
Keywords
office layout
Rights
© The Author(s). Kelvin Smith Library provides access for non-commercial, personal, or research use only. All other use, including but not limited to commercial or scholarly reproductions, redistribution, publication or transmission, whether by electronic means or otherwise, without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.
Department/Center
Design & Innovation
Recommended Citation
Brand, Stephen, "Exploring Office Space Synergy -- Under the Radar" (2002). Student Scholarship. 210.
https://commons.case.edu/studentworks/210