FUN IN THE WORKPLACE: TOWARD AN ENVIRONMENT-BEHAVIOR FRAMEWORK RELATING ...

[Pages:106]FUN IN THE WORKPLACE: TOWARD AN ENVIRONMENT-BEHAVIOR FRAMEWORK RELATING OFFICE DESIGN, EMPLOYEE CREATIVITY, AND

JOB SATISFACTION

By ALEXANDRA M. MILLER

A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT

OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF INTERIOR DESIGN UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2005

Copyright 2005 by

Alexandra M. Miller

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First, I would like to thank my committee chair, Dr. Margaret Portillo, for her direction and guidance throughout the entire research process. I would also like to thank Dr. M. Joyce Hasell for her support and valuable expertise. Additional thanks go to Dr. Larry Winner for his indispensable assistance as a statistical consultant. I would also like to thank PUSH for providing an excellent example of a fun workplace. In particular, I would like to thank partners John Ludwig, Chris Robb, and Rich Wahl for allowing me to conduct a case study of their business. Additional thanks go to Ron Boucher, Jourdan Crumpler, and Gordon Weller for taking the time to participate in interviews. I would also like to express my gratitude to Kathryn Voorhees for her help, humor, and friendship as she accompanied me throughout the research process. Finally, I would like to thank all of my friends and family for their support. In particular, I would like to thank to my parents for their constant support and for helping me to achieve my dreams.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

page

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iii

LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................ vii

LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... viii

ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................... ix

CHAPTER

1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................1

Purpose .........................................................................................................................2 Assumptions .................................................................................................................4 Significance ..................................................................................................................4 Delimitations.................................................................................................................6 Research Questions.......................................................................................................6 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................7

2 LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................................................8

Theoretical Background................................................................................................8 Fun in the Workplace (Worker-Environment Interaction) .........................................10 Physical Work Setting ................................................................................................12 Worker Characteristics ...............................................................................................14 Management Style ......................................................................................................14 Outcomes ....................................................................................................................15

Creativity .............................................................................................................15 Job Satisfaction....................................................................................................18 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................20

3 METHODS .................................................................................................................21

Research Design .........................................................................................................21 Case Selection.............................................................................................................22 Instruments .................................................................................................................24

Preface .................................................................................................................24 Job in General .....................................................................................................24

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KEYS: Assessing the Climate for Creativity........................................................25 Development of Interview Protocol............................................................................26 Procedures...................................................................................................................27

Standardized Tests...............................................................................................27 Observations ........................................................................................................29 Photography.........................................................................................................30 Interviews ............................................................................................................30 Analysis ...............................................................................................................31 Limitations...........................................................................................................33 Conclusion ...........................................................................................................33

4 FINDINGS..................................................................................................................34

The Social Environment at PUSH ..............................................................................34 Company Profile..................................................................................................34 Employee Demographics.....................................................................................35 Creativity .............................................................................................................37 Job Satisfaction....................................................................................................39 Workplace Fun ....................................................................................................40

The Physical Environment at PUSH...........................................................................43 Entry/Lobby.........................................................................................................45 Conference Room................................................................................................48 Workspaces..........................................................................................................49 Kitchen ................................................................................................................53

5 NARRATIVE .............................................................................................................56

Orientation to Narrative..............................................................................................56 Pushing the Boundaries of Work and Play .................................................................56 Interpretation...............................................................................................................60 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................64

6 DISCUSSION.............................................................................................................66

The Social Environment at PUSH ..............................................................................67 Company Profile..................................................................................................67 Employee Demographics.....................................................................................67 Creativity .............................................................................................................69 Job Satisfaction....................................................................................................73 Workplace Fun ....................................................................................................76

The Physical Environment at PUSH...........................................................................78 Entry/Lobby.........................................................................................................79 Conference Room................................................................................................79 Workspaces..........................................................................................................80 Kitchen ................................................................................................................83

Suggestions for Designers ..........................................................................................83 Suggestions for Further Research...............................................................................85

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Conclusion ..................................................................................................................86 APPENDIX A PARTICIPATION REQUEST LETTER....................................................................88 B INTERVIEW QUESTIONS .......................................................................................89

Standard Interview Questions.....................................................................................89 Management Interview Questions ..............................................................................91 LIST OF REFERENCES...................................................................................................93 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH .............................................................................................96

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LIST OF TABLES

Table

page

4-1. Normative KEYS data for PUSH ................................................................................37

4-2. Creativity subscale scores by individual item ............................................................38

4-3. Normative JIG data for PUSH....................................................................................40

4-4. Fun activities at PUSH ...............................................................................................42

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure

page

2-1. Model for workplace environmental psychology.........................................................8

2-2. Model for fun in the workplace ....................................................................................9

3-1. Fun in the workplace model, showing methods .........................................................28

4-1. Employee education levels .........................................................................................36

4-2. Employee fields of study ............................................................................................36

4-3. Creativity subscale scores by individual item ............................................................39

4-4. Exterior of building ....................................................................................................43

4-5. Floorplan.....................................................................................................................44

4-6. Office design...............................................................................................................45

4-7. Lobby space................................................................................................................46

4-8. Reception desk............................................................................................................47

4-9. Additional lobby features ...........................................................................................48

4-10. Conference room ......................................................................................................49

4-11. Open workspaces......................................................................................................50

4-12. Private office.............................................................................................................51

4-13. Wall displaying current campaign ideas...................................................................52

4-14. Workspace before and after renovation....................................................................53

4-15. Kitchen......................................................................................................................54

4-16. Collection of empty tequila bottles displayed in the kitchen....................................54

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