ASID survey shows ...Interior design of office can affect productivity

Nearly 90 percent of consultants, researchers and interior designers say they have seen interior design improvements lead to increases in office performance, according to a survey conducted for the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) last fall.

The survey, released in October 1998, is one component of a major research initiative by ASID and three of its industry partners: Armstrong World Industries, Collins & Aikman Floorcoverings and Steelcase, according to a news release from ASID.

The ASID survey asked three groups of productivity specialists for their opinions about issues related to office performance.

The first group comprised management consultants, including representatives from the Big Five accounting firms and top-ranking executives at other firms who frequently address workplace design as part of their consulting business.

The second group comprised researchers from major universities who have investigated various aspects of productive workplace practices.

The third group comprised leading interior designers who have worked on numerous projects to design, or redesign, offices for improved productivity, ASID stated.

The survey reinforced the findings of a previous ASID survey of business decision makers, including chief executive officers, presidents, chief operating officers and facility managers at small, medium and large companies.

In the earlier survey, 90 percent of respondents reported interior design's positive effects on workplace performance, the release stated.

"Evaluated together, the last two ASID research studies show there is a clear consensus on the connection between interior design and workplace performance," said Kathy Ford Montgomery, FASID, former ASID national president and director of interior design at Klipp Colussy Jenks DuBois Architects PC in Denver.

"In our upcoming research, we're digging deeper into the specific ways that design can help companies boost employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction and financial performance. These are three critical elements of a high-performance workplace," she added.

The consultants, researchers and interior designers participating in ASID's research identified five key factors for creating and maintaining productive and efficient offices. They are:

?People performance.

?Designed environment.

?Workflow.

?Technology.

?Human resources.

Efforts to improve people performance begin with recruiting and retaining effective managers and employees. Companies can enhance people performance when they create a team atmosphere that facilitates communication and interaction, the release stated.

Respondents emphasize that companies need to empower employees and allow them input into the design of their workplaces.

The role of the designed environment is increased when companies view the workplace as a tool to help improve performance, rather than just another expenditure.

Companies' efforts to recruit and retain qualified employees are enhanced when the physical environment of the workplace is functional, inviting and pleasant.

Redesigning work processes and the physical environment enhances workflow so tasks are completed more efficiently, ASID stated.

Workflow includes tasks performed by one employee at a single workstation, as well as projects that involve multiple employees in different areas throughout the office.

Workplace performance can be enhanced through technology when companies make sure employees have the right tools to do their jobs, including appropriate computers, software and related equipment.

Companies also need to make purchasing decisions with an eye to "futureproofing," i.e. accommodating future needs.

Providing employees with training and education opportunities is an important part of human resources support.

Companies also need to provide competitive compensation and benefits, as well as flexible policies such as telecommuting, to help maintain adequate staffing levels.

"It takes all five performance keys to unlock the full potential of a company and create a high-performance workplace," said Gary Wheeler, FASID, former ASID national president and managing director, Perkins & Will, Chicago.

"There needs to be an integrated team effort involving the client, interior designer and other professionals to make sure the right keys are used in the right sequence," he added.

Consultants, researchers and interior designers also reaffirm another finding from the previous survey of business decision makers they agreed there are four primary ways in which design impacts office performance. These design factors include:

?Improving access by grouping team members together for better workflow. Companies need to increase access to information and resources, provide more meeting spaces and eliminate communication barriers.

?Increasing comfort by selecting furniture and equipment that is adjustable and ergonomically sound. Improving lighting, air quality and temperature controls reduce distractions that can hinder employee performance.

?Providing sufficient privacy appropriate to specific work tasks. This includes reducing office noise and visual distractions.

?Enhancing flexibility by designing workspaces and floor plans that are easy to reconfigure when there are changes in teams, tasks and processes. Also, it is important to find the right balance between organizational and individual needs in the office.

"These four design factors help create a productive and efficient workplace," Montgomery said in the release. "Each design factor impacts one or more of the five performance keys."

ASID and its industry partners have developed a professional paper providing additional information on the impact of interior design on office performance. For a copy of "Productive Workplaces How Design Increases Productivity: Expert Insights," visit ASID on-line at

http://www.asid.org.

or call ASID at (202) 546-3480.

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