Decision makers say design affects productivity

In a 1997 survey by the American Society of Interior Designers, a majority of business decision makers said office design is key to increasing productivity and that it is important to review office design on a regular basis to stay competitive, according to an ASID release.

The ASID 200 survey is based on responses from 100 business decision makers from fast-growing small and mid-size companies and 100 from the largest 1,000 corporations. It is a component of a research initiative by ASID and industry partners 3M, Cooper Lighting, DuPont, Haworth and Masland. The survey was conducted by an independent research firm.

An overwhelming 90 percent of respondents said improvements in office design can increase worker productivity by creating an environment where obstacles to efficiency are minimized or eliminated.

At the top of the ASID 200's list of ways to increase worker productivity were improving the office design and environment, and implementing new technology, including computers, software and other equipment.

Survey respondents also mentioned other approaches to increase productivity in their offices. These included promoting a team atmosphere, employee empowerment and trust; employee training and education; and good communication.

Examples of office design changes that business decision makers surveyed gave as ways to help increase productivity included:

Improving access to resources, including other team members and equipment.

Increasing comfort, including selecting ergonomic furniture and accessories and arranging them in a way that is ergonomically sound.

Providing an aesthetically pleasing environment and enabling people to personalize their workspaces

Limiting noise and distractions while increasing privacy.

Providing flexible office layouts that can be customized by function to offer the appropriate balance between access and privacy as required.

Survey respondents also indicated that reviewing their office design at least every five years, and in some cases every year, is a factor in staying competitive.

"We recommend that clients make interior design a part of their annual review process," said Gary Wheeler, FASID, principal at Perkins & Will in Chicago, in the release. "This involves thinking about what can be done to optimize performance of the interior design not necessarily completely redoing the design."

And the concerns of the people using the space are paramount.

"We try to involve user groups, not just management, in the decision-making process," Wheeler said. "We also implement the changes we recommend our involvement is more long-term."

When asked about office design, 86 percent of business decision makers said it is important for a company to appear flexible, adaptable and forward-thinking. However, only 15 percent of these leaders indicated that they believed their office design communicated that image.

The top 10 responses in regard to image and existing office design, according to the ASID 200, were:

1. We're a serious place of business, competent and efficient.

2. We are classy, impressive, successful, stylish and established.

3. Our employees are valued and important this is a good, comfortable and friendly place to work.

4. We are up-to-date, modern and forward-thinking.

5. We are conservative, lean and spend money wisely.

6. We are clean, organized and tidy.

7. We have an open, free-flow of ideas and we maximize communication.

8. Nothing much, something negative

9. We are team-oriented.

10. Don't know what it says.