Productivity in buildings: the 'killer' variables

Type	Book, Section
Author(s)	Leaman,A. , Bordass,W. , Clements-Croome,D.
Publication year	2000
Notes	ID: LEAMAN2000B; This chapter attempts to address the issue of Human productivity in the workplace. Specifically the chapter addresses the question "What features of workplaces under the control of designers and managers significantly influence human productivity" The paper discusses the difficulties in assessing human productivity in the workplace,p168. Issues identified include: -Differences in buildings, and their operational and managerial circumstances -Buildings and their occupying organisations are rarely even similar to each other form case to case, which complicates comparisons -Methodological and interpretation problems - People behave differently in groups The term "killer" variable has been defiend as having a $" critical influence on the overall behaviour of a system"$,p171.These "killer" variables are arranged into four clusters. The clusters are: -Personal control -Responsiveness -Building depth -Workgroups Productivity gains (or losses) , from other authors, of 15% are made. The paper clearly states that it only addresses productivity that can be affected by the building designers and facilities managers. Issues not considered that may have an affect on productivity are workplace stress,management attitudes and job satisfaction. The paper concludes that offices work best for human productivity when: -There are opportunities for personal control -There is a rapid response to environmental issues -There are shallow plan forms, preferably with less technical and management-intensive systems -Activities which properly fit the services which are supposed to support them$$ $$
Issue	11
Start page	167
End page	191
Relevance to practice	High
Ease of application	High
Evidence base	Strong
Readability	Medium

Comments

No comments yet for this article.

Post a comment

You must be logged in to post comments. Login now.