Abstract:
‘Cellular office layouts’ and ‘open office layouts’ are the two main office designing
techniques available for a Facility Manager. The latter is the widely used technique out of
the two due to the reasons such as efficient space utilization, cost effectiveness, easiness
in altering the layouts etc.. Although, both the techniques have its advantages and
disadvantages, it is observed that lot of grievances exist among the users of “open office
layouts”.
The employee productivity and Job satisfaction level are found to be inter-related. Hence
the factors affecting the job satisfaction level of an employee is vital for organizational
management. Satisfaction level about the work place is identified as one of the factors
affecting job satisfaction level of an employee.
The literature available about working environment and productivity, discusses about the
attributes which affect Overall Environmental Satisfaction level (Satisfaction level about
ones work place) of an employee occupying a workplace. Out of them, the researcher
identified 21 attributes as the base of his study and developed a questionnaire to gather
information about the occupant’s Overall Environmental Satisfaction level in relation to
the identified attributes. Survey done among the 46 executives in two offices, implies that
the 21 attributes identified, have a direct impact upon the Overall Environmental
Satisfaction level of an occupant. Hence inclusion of said 21 attributes, into layout
designs is very vital in providing an efficient and productive working environment.
Further, a detailed analysis about customer requirements and their interdependencies,
prior to design a layout, is important, since success of the proposed layout will depend
upon inclusion ofthem.
User awareness about the functionality and design considerations (or assumptions) ofthe
layout is also important in maintaining the office layout as intended.
Finally the office layouts are to be checked routinely, for their intended performance
levels after handing over.
