The Experiential Workplace: Convergence of Worker-Workplace Identity

Abstract

Does the workers’ affective experience of their workplace influence performance in knowledge work organizations? This quantitative study merges constructs from environmental psychology and organizational behavior research to explain the relationship between the perception of the physical office environment and workers’ emotional and behavioral outcomes. This research demonstrates that the workplace experience of workers predicts job satisfaction and job engagement, which mediate workers’ performance as innovators. The findings from this study have the potential to unify the often divergent views of organizational managers and workplace design teams as to the influence of the physical work environment on knowledge workers. In addition, the study informs operations and human resource managers of ways to employ the physical work environment to improve job engagement and job satisfaction in the knowledge workforce. It impresses upon workplace designers the importance of a worker-centered approach in workspace...