Whatever else may or may not occur in the evolution of the enclosed office one thing is certain -- attention to individuals’ work spaces within our organizations (at every level), will result in higher job satisfaction, increased productivity and, according to the Buffalo Organization for Social and Technological Innovation (BOSTI) studies, cost savings.

BOSTI researchers considered 18 facets involved in an individual’s space, and concluded that there is a clearly definable economic benefit to giving critical attention to the planning and designing of work areas. When offices are planned to fit perfectly with workers’ needs, the resulting increase in productivity may amount to as much as two to five percent of each worker’s annual salary.

By planning ahead, by creating provisions that allow for the many and various ways in which work is accomplished, and by considering the particular components that make workers’ jobs more efficient we effectively create a valuable resource: the productive worker who experiences a substantially higher than average level of job satisfaction.

Perhaps more than at any time in the past, today’s worker demands that his or her work be meaningful and that the physical environment in which that work is accomplished provide meaning as well.



The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only and do not represent the views of the Techman/Kanata or of any of its directors, officers or employees. The author, Melissa Grimes, can be reached at topdog@studiowestid.com