Field survey on communication and workplace environment in a office which is aimed at improving workplace productivity

Abstract

We surveyed communication and behavior as intermediate indicators of workplace productivity. The method of survey was composed of a subjective (occupants' questionnaire) and objective (using interval cameras) evaluation. These methods were used to assess an R&D factory building. Prior to the construction of a new factory building of the Japanese case study company, R&D facilities existed in two locations 20 km apart (or 50minutes by car). By the objective survey using the interval camera, an approximate 40% increase in communication volume was observed around writing space, which more than doubled at test sites that were upstream of manufacturing. It is a main cause of the increase of the communication quantity that the number of people in the same space increased because people of work gather in one place. The multiple linear regression analysis of the POE survey implies that teamwork and communication are affected by the number, dimension, and location of meeting rooms and open meeting spaces, in addition to employee satisfaction levelswith the view and panorama fromthe office windows.