Traditional versus open office design - A longitudinal field study

Research in open office design has shown that it is negatively related to workers' satisfaction with their physical environment and perceived productivity. A longitudinal study was conducted within a large private organization to investigate the effects of relocating employees from traditional offices to open offices. A measure was constructed that assessed employees' satisfaction with the physical environment, physical stress, coworker relations, perceived job performance, and the use of open office protocols. The sample consisted of 21 employees who completed the surveys at all three measurement intervals: prior to the move, 4 weeks after the move, and 6 months after the move. Results indicated decreased employee satisfaction with all of the dependent measures following the relocation. Moreover, the employees' dissatisfaction did not abate, even after an adjustment period. Reasons for these findings are discussed and recommendations are presented.