The Hidden Influences of Office Design

A good deal of attention has been directed at the suggestion that office design including the arrangement of offices, furnishings, and physical objects present in the work setting influences job performance, job attitudes, and impressions. With almost 40 million people currently working in 9 billion square feet of office space in the United States,1 even relatively small influences of office design on performance, attitudes, and impressions could have a large impact on productivity levels and employee attitudes. Many managers are unaware of the relationship between office design and various organizational behaviors, attitudes, and impressions. In this paper, I will (1) identify and describe the ways various elements of office design influence attitudes and behaviors, (2) identify and describe symbolic messages conveyed by office design, and (3) elaborate on actions managers can take that may result in more efficient and effective work environments.