Workplace Design Research Articles

Hindered, Overlooked, and Undervalued: Gender Equality in Nordic Blue Economies

The Nordic countries are ranked among the most gender equal countries worldwide. Equality, political, and civil rights, leading to the high participation of women in the workforce, have paved the way for this egalitarian view. However, women remain the minority in managerial positions in general, and they are also strongly underrepresented in many male‐dominated sectors of the blue economy. The aim of this article is to introduce and discuss gender equality in the blue economy, and to assess the status of gender research in the Nordic context. To achieve this, a purposive interdisciplinary literature review resulted in three encompassing themes on how women’s participation is hindered, overlooked, and undervalued. Using these themes as an analytical lens, we propose that the underlying mechanisms are similar within fisheries, aquaculture, and maritime transportation in how they affect women’s participation. Still, there is a lack of statistics and research within parts of the blue sector. To move forward, there needs to be a shift in focus from policy to practice. One starting point could be to implement current knowledge, e.g., regarding workplace design and tailoring equipment to fit a diverse workforce. We call for scaling up best practices and evaluating policy performance and effectiveness. These are prerequisites for sustainable recruitment and retention of the blue sector workforce and the only way forward for countries aspiring to be truly gender equal.

Guest Editorial – Unravelling the power of virtual reality for the future of workplace learning and design: individual, organisational and societal considerations

Guest Editorial – Unravelling the power of virtual reality for the future of workplace learning and design: individual, organisational and societal considerations

A revised online tool for room acoustic prediction of open-plan offices

Room acoustic conditions in open-plan offices are usually measured using ISO 3382-3 standard. The essential single-number quantities obtained from the measurement are comfort distance and distraction distance. Their values can also be predicted using a regression model of Keränen & Hongisto (2013). The prediction accuracy of the model has been proven to be high. The input variables for the model are simple to obtain: room dimensions, screen height, ceiling absorption, vertical absorption, speech level, and background noise level. The prediction model was published online in 2008 but withdrawn in 2013. Since then, we have been repeatedly asked to return the online tool. Since the standard was updated in 2022, we developed a revised online tool that predicts the single-number values of ISO 3382-3 standard. The purpose of this study is to present the online tool and validate its reliability by comparing online tool results to previously published results. The comparison shows that the online tool results agree with the above-mentioned studies. Therefore, the online tool can be safely used. It is a valuable aid in workplace design, demonstrations, research, and education.

Active workplace design: current gaps and future pathways

Active workplace design: current gaps and future pathways

The “Other” Workplace Design Factors: An Insight into What New Zealand Workers Want

The “Other” Workplace Design Factors: An Insight into What New Zealand Workers Want

Creating dynamic environments for the hybrid work experience : A case study of repositioning the Cambridge Consultants Boston office

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the transition to hybrid work, leading to increased office vacancies globally. However, many companies grappled with the challenge of creating hybrid work models that provide staff-desired flexibility while enabling effective social connection and appropriately using physical space. The employee experience is multifaceted, involving interpersonal, occupational, physical and technological factors. Human-centred design strategies are essential for fostering well-being, satisfaction and organisational performance. Investing in workplace design fosters employee satisfaction, productivity and talent retention; influences client interactions; and strengthens the connection between employees and organisational identity. The case study detailed herein focuses on Cambridge Consultants, a research and development consulting company, navigating this transition. The company underwent a thorough assessment from autumn 2021 to autumn 2022 to develop an ideal space for their new Boston-based North American office, emphasising participatory design to support the evolving demands of the hybrid work model. The relocation process involved an extensive discovery phase, including surveys, focus groups and envisioning sessions to gather insights from staff. The design development phase further engaged staff, seeking feedback on various design concepts, finishes and layouts. The company’s commitment to inclusivity and transparency extended to change management efforts, which included shifting from assigned desks to a hotelling model. The new office design prioritised innovation, connectedness, flexibility and belonging, aiming to fulfil the staff’s vision for a dynamic and inclusive workspace. Features such as an inviting lobby, staff and project showcases, variable furniture and room options and interactive walls contributed to the vision. A post-occupancy survey in autumn 2023 revealed overall positive perceptions of the new office and considered it conducive to cross-collaboration and creativity, but highlighted challenges such as setting up hotelling desks to meet personal preferences and transit-related factors affecting office attendance. The case study emphasises the importance of ongoing staff engagement, usability assessments, and a holistic understanding of real-world context. Future research is suggested to analyse the impact of hybrid work setups on operational performance metrics and the relationships between commuting complexity and perceived value in going to the office.

Virtual reality in ergonomics by wearable devices: experiences from the automotive sector

PurposePreventive ergonomics is essential to protecting the health and safety of workers as is recognizing human variability. The purpose of this paper is to describe a Unity-based application designed for three-dimensional postural analysis and visualizations using motion capture data. Integration with virtual reality (VR) technologies allows the user to be immersed in the simulated working environment without the need for a physical prototype. The proposed application aims to facilitate the application of ergonomic principles in workplace design and assessment for a proactive, participatory and inclusive approach to worker well-being.Design/methodology/approachThe authors developed an application that leverages motion capturing techniques and VR technologies and aims to support the analysts in the ergonomic assessment of physical prototypes as well as future workplaces. An innovative postural prediction module helps the analyst understanding what postures different users are likely to assume in the interaction with the workplace from a single data record.FindingsThe functionalities of the proposed application are illustrated on some case studies, presenting how different information is made available and can support workplace analysts and designers in an industrial context.Originality/valueThis paper provides insights into the experience and research carried out by an automotive company in the application of wearable sensors and VR to support a proactive and participatory approach to workplace ergonomics.

Designing affective workplace environments: The impact of typology, contour, ceiling and partition height on cognitive and aesthetic appraisal

Up to 90 % of our time is spent indoors, with 40 % of a full-time employee's waking hours spent at work, underscoring the critical importance of workplace environments in promoting health and well-being. While there is substantial knowledge about the impact of spatial design on environmental satisfaction and productivity, there is a gap in understanding its effect on employees' aesthetic and cognitive experiences. This study addresses these gaps by investigating how variations in typical workplace design elements—such as partition height, ceiling height, and contour shape—across three workplace typologies (Open plan, Cellular, and Bürolandschaft) influence both aesthetic (beauty, attention, pleasure) and cognitive (safety, distraction, interaction) appraisals. Thirty-six virtual models of workplace environments were generated using parametric modeling methods, and a total of 713 participants provided ratings and rankings for these dimensions. Our findings indicate that higher partitions are associated with greater perceived safety and reduced distractions, while curved contours are perceived as more aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable compared to angular designs. The Bürolandschaft typology significantly enhances perceived safety and interaction. Moreover, isovist analysis revealed that spatial features such as isovist compactness and circularity positively correlate with beauty, pleasure, and attention, while higher dispersion is linked to lower safety perceptions. These insights are crucial for designing affective workplace environments that balance openness and privacy, enhance safety, and support a science-informed approach to workplace design that promotes positive cognitive and aesthetic experiences.

Occupational safety management and human reliability testing during the operation of a plastic injection molding machine

Work safety is a key element in the design and maintenance of industrial workplaces and processes. This article examines occupational safety and the reliability of the human factor in the role of a plastic injection molding machine operator. Analyzing the work process and the dangerous, harmful, and burdensome factors present in the environment and workplace allowed for the identification of occupational hazards. Additionally, factors such as the frequency of threats, the likelihood of events, the possibility of avoiding and limiting damage, and the consequences of events were considered to conduct an occupational risk assessment according to the JSA (Job Safety Analysis) method. Following this, human reliability was assessed by determining the probability of operator errors using the TESEO and HEART methods. Finally, the possibility of using selected immersion techniques on the results of the research was discussed. The research methods and tools used in this study included a literature review and analysis, observation, interviews, and inference.

ANALYZİNG SEATED AND STANDİNG POSTURES WİTH ANTHROPOMETRİC MODELİNG FOR ERGONOMİC DESİGN

The design of workstations and workplaces for ergonomics can be challenging when determining anthropometric parameters such as standing height. This study aimed to develop model equations for determining standing height (SH) using regression analysis as an alternative to measurement. The study involved 406 healthy young adults (206 male and 200 female) aged between 19 and 27years from Abeokuta south western Nigeria. Seated-at-shoulder level (SSL), seated-at-knee level (SKL), popliteal height (PH) and standing height (SH) measurements were taken for each participant. Multivariate regression analyses was used to determine the SH with correlation coefficient (R), coefficient of determination (R2) and Standard error of estimation (S.E.E) calculated. Study results showed a strong correlation (P

Enhancing work commitment through workplace design: development and prioritization of evaluation criteria in South Korea

ABSTRACT Workplace design elements influence work commitment; however, previous studies broadly categorized these elements, lacking specific practical design information. This study aims to classify workplace design elements that influence work commitment into structural and decorative elements, then further categorize them into top-level factors and sub-items. Using two surveys with employees, this study derived evaluation criteria, resulting in 6 factors and 19 sub-items for structural elements, and 6 factors and 27 sub-items for decorative elements. Subsequently, an additional survey was conducted with employees to prioritize the derived workplace design elements for work commitment. The results indicated that workplaces designed for work commitment should be as follows: first, structural elements should be prioritized over decorative elements. Second, structural elements should be considered in the order of outdoor space perception, scale, functionality, circulation impact, visual impact and aesthetic characteristics. Third, decorative elements should be considered in the order of furniture, colour, material, interior landscaping, personal lighting devices and graphics. This study establishes criteria for workplace design to enhance work commitment and provides valuable insights for improving work commitment through design.

Workplace circulation design and movement: a case study of three Australian campus buildings

ABSTRACT This paper explores the interconnections between a building’s spatial qualities and office workers’ health behaviours, specifically focusing on physical activity, circulation route usage, and sitting time. A mixed methods approach was adopted to examine three workplace buildings, using spatial analysis, physical activity measurement, and a survey of 99 participants. The findings revealed statistical differences in movement patterns among workers in the three case studies. The analysis highlighted the predominantly sedentary nature of the workplaces, staff’s prioritisation of the quickest route, their willingness to incorporate personal physical activity into the workday, and the significant impacts of circulation space design on movement patterns. In response to the pressing need for increased physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviour at work, a greater understanding of the embodied movement of workers must be central in workplace briefing, design, management, and research. We argue that circulation spaces in workplaces should be designed as more than just enablers of workplace functionality and emergency egress.

Challenges and Opportunities in Navigating the Intersection of AI and Ergonomics in the Indian Market

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with ergonomics is revolutionizing workplace design and efficiency. AIdriven systems analyze human biomechanics and task repetition, providing data to optimize workspaces and minimize musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). In manufacturing, AI-powered automation reduces physical strain and employs predictive analytics to preempt ergonomic issues. The IT sector benefits from AI-enhanced workstation optimization, especially in remote setups. Healthcare uses AI to refine equipment design and reduce strain through task automation. Construction leverages AI for hazard mitigation and efficient task scheduling. Challenges include high costs, limited expertise, cultural resistance, and infrastructure constraints. Overcoming these requires targeted incentives, education, and scalable solutions. Careful integration is crucial to address new ergonomic risks and ensure AI complements human roles, particularly in the Indian context.

Constructing a theory-informed workplace design framework: co-design case study for knowledge work environment satisfaction improvement

ABSTRACT Addressing work environment design methods has become increasingly important due to pandemic-induced changes in the ways and locations of work. This research addresses work environment design through a theory-informed workplace design framework to study the co-design process, the impact of spatial atmosphere on workplace experience and satisfaction, and infrequently studied spaces, i.e. meeting rooms and breakout areas. This case study is based on co-design methods, a workplace design intervention study and its evaluation. Comprehensive design is addressed through analytical dimensions of design, i.e. instrumental, symbolic, aesthetic and perceived dimensions of atmosphere and affordances. Furthermore, the spatial experience is explored through need-supply fit theory and workplace satisfaction. The pre-design results showed that employees have distinct design preferences based on perceived and analytical dimensions for technical, hybrid and creative meetings and individual work and recovery events. The workspace interventions were designed using the design information gathered from the co-design process; the changes implemented in intervention spaces increased employee satisfaction towards them. The study’s methodology contributes to establishing a theory-informed workplace design framework supporting user-centred workplace design and evaluation and indicates a role for spatial atmosphere in need-supply fit formation.

Workplaces of Today and Tomorrow to Attract and Retain Top Talent: Challenges and Opportunities with Remote / Hybrid Practices

The face and nature of the workplace are changing; remote work technologies and the capabilities of artificial intelligence are having a transformative effect on traditional norms of work performance, to which both employees and managers must adapt. The article analyzes the advantages and problems of remote work, its impact on staff turnover and retention, the sources and specifics of industrial stress during remote work, and the problem of environmentalization of workplaces with this format of work organization. The basis of the study was the results of an electronic survey from November 2023 till March 2024 of 40 specialists from the public and private sectors of South Florida (USA) who studied a postgraduate course in personnel management regarding their views, expectations, and preferences for onsite, remote and hybrid workplaces. Respondents gave answers to both closed and open questions to analyze the answers to which content analysis and inductive coding were used. 54% of respondents work in traditional offices, 32% can work remotely, and 14% of respondents have a hybrid work format. Analysis of the answers to the open questions allows us to determine the desired organizational culture format as flexible, remote/hybrid, positive, belonging/inclusive, work-life balance, and employee-oriented. The majority of respondents consider workplace design to be an essential determinant of labor productivity. Technologies for monitoring employees’ working hours for office, remote or hybrid work formats are different, and it is necessary to respect the employee’s right to privacy (20% of respondents consider regular monitoring appropriate, 50% – periodic, and 30% consider monitoring inappropriate). Organizations that organize a comfortable format of remote work for their employees are more likely to be able to attract and retain a talented workforce at a lower cost than those that require the presence of employees in the office (over the next decade, only 10% of respondents are willing to prefer working in the office, then as 90% – hybrid or remote work option). Based on the survey results, a list of criteria a company must fulfil to attract and retain talented employees and the characteristics of the most attractive work environment was formulated.

Organisations’ and employees’ perceptions of the impact of activity-based working on the organisational culture

Purpose Challenged by the effects of organisational flexibility and high corporate real estate (CRE) costs, organisations increasingly seek flexibility and operational efficiency in their physical office layouts. This paper examines and compares how the existing organisational culture of organisations changed with the introduction of activity-based working (ABW) from the perspectives of organisations and their employees. Design/methodology/approach The research focused on large organisations that had introduced ABW during the period of 2012–2019 and their employees. Two surveys were implemented with the management of organisations and employees. In-depth interviews with the management were also undertaken. The research focused on three different industry sectors in Australia – financial, IT and public. The competing value framework was used to measure the dimensions of organisational culture. Findings Findings identify major finance, internal business, learning and growth and staff and client-oriented motives affecting organisations’ decisions to introduce ABW. Findings illustrate that the nature of workplace design has a considerable impact on organisations’ culture and can be used to leverage and change it. However, a noticeable discrepancy between the perceptions of the organisation and employees in the public and private sectors was identified, where public sector employees felt that standardised procedures still governed their actions even in ABW. Originality/value This research highlights that workplace designs directly influence the culture of organisations. It emphasises the importance of an in-depth examination of the behavioural and attitudinal characteristics of organisations and their employees to obtain a better understanding of how they perceive and interact in ABW layouts.

Migraine self-management at work: a qualitative study

BackgroundMigraine is common and can be highly disabling. Adequate migraine self-management (SM) can mitigate the potentially adverse health effects of migraine. However, adequate SM can be challenging to implement in everyday life, for instance, at the workplace. We aimed to explore how migraine SM is carried out at work and which occupational factors may determine effective implementation according to employees with migraine. We also explored the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated re-arrangement of working conditions on migraine SM at work.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews (08/2020–01/2021). Participants were eligible if they have worked for at least six months with a minimum of twenty hours per week and with a migraine diagnosis. The interviews were transcribed and content-analyzed using MAXQDA.ResultsMigraine SM was perceived to be influenced by social interactions at work (e.g., in terms of understanding vs. stigmatization), the level of job decision latitude (JDL, i.e., the extent to which one is able to influence work processes, e.g., when working from home), and workplace design (e.g., in terms of opportunities to withdraw from work). During the COVID-19 pandemic, especially increased JDL appeared to favorably influence migraine SM.ConclusionsMigraine SM at work is fostered or complicated by various psychosocial working conditions. By considering these facilitators and barriers, more migraine-friendly workplaces can be created.

From boredom to bliss: unravelling the influence of biophilic office design on gen Z’s mental well-being and contentment

PurposeThis study aims to examine the connection between biophilic workplace design and its effect on Gen Z employees’ mental well-being and job contentment. The aim is to provide insights for the top management to acknowledge and implement biophilic workplaces to create a more productive and fulfilling work environment.Design/methodology/approachThe research study is supported by a literature review of 45 peer-reviewed papers. The research involved a comprehensive review of databases such as Scopus, EBSCO, Elsevier, Jstor and Google Scholar using relevant keywords and Boolean operators. The inclusion criteria for the study are limited to articles published between 2013 and 2024. The review results provide insights into the current state of research on biophilic office spaces and their impact on Gen Z employees’ mental well-being and productivity.FindingsThe findings of this study reveal how biophilic office design positively impacts the mental well-being and job contentment of Gen Z employees, leading to increased productivity. It demonstrates that being around elements of nature at work can reduce stress and enhance cognitive function, leading to increased job contentment.Originality/valueFew studies have been done on the impact of biophilic-designed offices on Gen Z employees, a cohort increasingly becoming the dominant workforce. The conceptual model proposed in the study has defined the positive aspects of biophilic design for Gen Z employees.

Strategies for Smart Manufacturing Industry 5.0: High Quality Development for the Future

The proposal of Industry 5.0 is an effort and attempt to shape a new type of industrialization using human defined values. The core elements of Industry 5.0, including human centeredness, sustainable development, and resilience, are all different forms of high-quality development. This article proposes four corporate value innovation strategies - rainforest strategy, wetland strategy, grassland strategy, and oasis strategy - to provide management suggestions for traditional manufacturing enterprises to shift to smart manufacturing Industry 5.0. Human-robot collaboration, AI and machine learning, IoT and cyber-physical systems, sustainable manufacturing, human-centered workplace designs, resilient and flexible supply chains, and digital twin and simulation technologies are covered in the text. This article presents a detailed plan for the shift towards Industry 5.0, emphasizing the advantages and real-world uses of these sophisticated production techniques. On the new journey, what kind of response can smart manufacturing Industry 5.0 makes and how can they make forward-looking strategic preparations?

Why we need employees back at the office: The effect of workplace design on creativity in organizations

With the ongoing changes in the work environment, specifically turning from fulltime to no time at the office and nowadays pending somewhere in between, there is a need for decision makers to redefine their expectations of a day at the office. Previously, organizations worldwide focussed on creating workplaces that foster interaction and collaboration to enhance knowledge exchange and communication. Both are among the main drivers for stimulating creativity at the workplace, leading to increased innovation activities. Since offices are dramatically changing from lean, work‐focused, and hierarchical workstations into employee‐oriented, creativity‐enhancing spaces with playground artefacts, the need for quantitative research on the effects of workplace design on creativity seems evident for researchers and practitioners. Although prior research has attempted to describe the physical work environment and its impact on creativity, empirical evidence is still lacking on what concrete attributes of a workplace employees perceive as inspiring. We therefore contribute to the existent body of knowledge by establishing a definition for inspiring physical workplaces as perceived by employees in times of digitalization and provide a conceptual model analysing the effects between workplace design, internal knowledge exchange, and creative problem‐solving capacity. We assess our survey data with partial least squares structural equation modelling and provide first empirical evidence that our proposed formative index supports the common research agenda within the context of workplace design, and further, that aspects of workplace design not only enhance creative problem‐solving capacity as an important dimension of creativity itself, but that this relationship is also partially mediated by internal knowledge exchange.