Workstation design for organizational productivity - National ...

Workstation BoundariesComplaints about privacy and distraction revolve around workstationboundaries: spaces that are too small; partitions that are too low; layouts thatproduce too much traffic. These all contribute to low satisfaction and poorconditions.Workstation Size: Small workstations place people and noise sources closertogether, compromising privacy. Large workstations result in long distancesto shared resources and may increase social isolation. COPE researchrecommends workstation sizes between approximately 5.9 m 2 and 13.4 m 2(64 ft 2 - 144 ft 2 ). W.5Research:Workstation SizeStudies that compare the effectsof smaller and larger workstationshave found that larger workstations areassociated with higher environmentalsatisfaction, job satisfaction, and perceivedprivacy. During the COPE project, researchers foundthat more occupants were satisfied than dissatisfiedwith privacy when workstations were neither toosmall nor too large. Small workstations alsolack storage and surface space, which candirectly impede the work process.W.6Satisfaction or Dissatisfaction with Privacy (%)Effect of Workstation Size on SatisfactionArea (feet)8x8 10x10 12x123025201510502x2 2.5x2.5 3x3 3.5x3.5 4x4Area (metres)COPE field studies found that more occupants aresatisfied with privacy when workstations areneither too large nor too small. From: Newshamet al. (2003).57