Abstract:
Previous studies have concluded that interior design parameters have an influence on the
productivity in office environment. However this fact does not attract sufficient and
significant emphasis in Sri Lankan setting. Therefore, this research was focused on exploring
the effect of interior design on the productivity of employees in Sri Lankan context and
identification of the key interior design parameters responsible for the processes in office
environments.
Four major factors including furniture arrangement, colour of walls/partitions, visuals and
service distribution were identified as significant factors for employees’ productivity, using
t-test. Further these factors were studied in detail to identify their impact on employee
productivity through five case studies.
The five cases were selected from the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, so as to
represent varying professional atmospheres. Three of them had recently updated interior
according to new concepts whereas other two did not have so. Data collection was carried
out through observation of office environments and officers’ behaviour, questionnaire
survey, interviews and telephone conversations with those who experience the impact of
worker productivity. Furthermore, discussions were carried out with the management of the
companies chosen for case studies, in order to verify the obtained results and the test results
were proven to be accurate according to their observations and experience.
Results reveals proper furniture arrangement ensures efficiency of employees and
significantly improves teamwork and speed of work while comfortable furniture encourages
continuous working. On the other hand, use of colours improves employees’ mood and
quality of work. Further, placing visually attractive artefacts, displaying motivational
wordings and quotes and establishing windows increase moral, motivation and comfort of
employees. According to this study, service distribution within an office space causes
convenience in communication within the office and also with the outsiders and increases the
service status, while saving time by minimizing movement inside the office and waiting time
to use electrical equipment.
This research would be a benchmark study for commercial organizations as a technique for
improving their employees’ productivity.