Greenaway K.A., Thai A.H., Haslam S.A., Murphy S.C. (2016). Spaces that signal identity improve workplace productivity. Journal of Personnel Psychology, 15(1), 35–43. https://doi.org/10.1027/1866-5888/a000148

Wake Forest University

A paper designed to explore the effects of identity signaling on both individual and group productivity. This experimental approach sorted participants into teams to examine the role ingroup versus outgroup spaces played on the completion of simple, team-oriented tasks. 

Spaces that Signal Identity Improve Workplace Productivity

- Previous research on the workplace has focused on the effects of physical aspects of the space, such as layout
- However, spaces can also be psychologically impactful due to the ways in which they support (or discourage) group identity
- This support of identity has been shown to affect performance in other settings (Example: "home court advantage")

Introduction (Identity Signaling & Workplace Productivity)

- Main Idea: to examine the effect of being in a space with identity cues as opposed to a "lean space" without any identity signaling
- 3 settings for completing exercises: lean space, ingroup decoration, and outgroup decoration

The Research Study (Identity Signaling & Workplace Productivity)

- Results Summary
- Limitations
- Implications

Discussion (Identity Signaling & Workplace Productivity)

Physical spaces are important for psychological functioning. Spaces are meaningful in the way it supports, communicates and channels group identity. People generally experience positive outcomes in spaces that support important identities and negative outcomes in spaces that threaten important identities.

Physical Spaces and Psychological Functioning

The social identity approach asserts that "individuals internalize group memberships as part of their self-concept in a way that fundamentally shapes their perceptions, thoughts, and behavior." Essentially, people are motivated to achieve or maintain positive social identities. When workplace identities are respected, job satisfaction, well-being, and productivity are improved and people are more willing to work toward organizational goals.

Social Identity Approach

Workplace territoriality can be viewed as the ability to monitor and to regulate the use of space in the workplace. This also refers to feelings of psychological ownership associated with organizational spaces. It is common for one to use spatial boundaries to define their territory and as a result people respond negatively when their spaces are encroached upon.

Workplace Territoriality

Both identity in-groups and out-groups increased work performance and productivity. However, out-group performance was motivated out of rivalry and competition. Therefore, researchers suggest that in-group spaces will be more beneficial in the long-term, as there are benefits to adding enrichment and meaning to office spaces for organizational performance. 

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