Workstation design for organizational productivity - National ...

The WorkstationThe Function of the WorkstationOffices exist primarily to allow employees to do their work, and, thereby,support their organization’s goals. Though work performance is the keyfunction, a workstation should also provide a supportive environment formental and physical well-being. Employees may spend upwards of 30% oftheir waking hours per year in their offices, which need to be comfortable andsatisfactory.Possible workstation set-upsLike all offices, open-plan office workstations must provide the space,equipment, and conditions that employees need to do their work. To meet thefunctional requirements of each job, one needs to know who will work in theoffice and the variety of tasks that they will do.The other major consideration should be the individual and his or her specificneeds and preferences. It is not always possible to consult with eachindividual, but making allowances for preferences and allowing someadjustability can satisfy people’s differing needs. The employees are the mostsignificant determinant for all successful design choices.Desired Office ConditionsAsking employees is the best way to identify task needs and preferredconditions. In the COPE field study, researchers surveyed over 700 open-planoffice occupants about their opinions of physical conditions. The participantsrank-ordered the importance of seven features. Air quality and ventilation53