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

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. 

In-group vs Out-group on Work Performance

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. 

Wake Forest University

Albion College

On-site Workplace design focuses specifically on On-site work settings in which the business has more control over design aspects. Businesses have control over the physical layout of the work environment and as such are able to make the workspace efficient. The professionalism of the workplace helps create a sense of uniformity, which promotes a sense of efficiency through grouping. Professionalism consists of office attire and uniform workspace. A Uniform workspace allows for equality in resources allocated toward employees (something that may not be the case with remote work). Working on-site allows for more face-to-face interaction, creating more transparent interaction with what employees are contributing and better communication in regards to what needs to be completed.
 


On-site Workplace design

Those within an educational system are among some of the most stress-triggering jobs out there. It is important to understand what triggers stress within education as well as how to address and manage this to provide a welcoming, positive environment for their students.

Stress in the Workplace

• New employee interactions

• Task-related interactions

• Private interactions

Onsite Social Interactions

“Employee engagement is a desirable condition, has an organizational purpose, and connotes involvement, commitment, passion, enthusiasm, focused effort, and energy”

Onsite Employee Engagement

On-site work is when a majority of work produced by the company/business is done by employees at a business-owned building. On-site work is normally viewed as more rigid than remote work but still may be able to offer some types of flexibility. On-site work is generally viewed as work in an office-type setting in which employees work in cubicles and/or offices.   

On-site Work

"The extent to which an employee experiences feeling fulfilled and having his or her needs met in both work and non-work facets of life"

Onsite Work-life Balance

An article that presents evidence of occupants' perception of their work environment in five different office types (Solo, Duo, 2-4, 5-8 and 8Plus offices). Used a dataset of 5000 respondents in 67 commercial and institutional office buildings on their perception of comfort and productivity in their office environments.

Does the Number of Occupants in an Office Influence Individual Perceptions of Comfort and Productivity?

- Employees put high emphasis on office layout and design
- Having a dedicated meeting space is important
- Some employees value community in design of office
- Design has impact on corporate culture

On-site Aesthetics and Office Layout

1. Social Relations 
2. Attention Focus 
3. Stress Reduction 
4. Photobiology 

Learn Before

Related

Learn After