Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1981. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-86).

The concept of open planned office space is becoming more and more popular. However, there is a serious problem associated with this concept, that being the attainment of speech privacy. Since speech privacy is a very important issue for some types of office work the main objective of this thesis is to study the acoustic requirements of the open plan office. In order to improve office working conditions, it was decided to correlate existing theoretical findings on general office noise and screen/ceiling acoustical performance with actual situations from seven office layout samples taken in the Vancouver, B.C., area. Of the people who have been doing research in this specific area, Geiger and Hamme in Ann Arbor, Michigan, appear to be the furthest advanced. The purpose of this thesis is to extend the work of Geiger and Hamme as a contribution to the existing findings of the acoustical characteristics of open plan office space. To achieve the goals of this thesis, the historical background of office buildings, a study of current space requirements and the importance of speech privacy are examined. Further theoretical issues include an explanation of acoustical performance of specific building elements. The objective of this discussion is to expand the data base of a number of acoustical parameters including average sound levels, articulation index and screen/ceiling attenuation values, in order to further develop existing acoustical design criteria. The study concludes that while there is indeed a need for speech privacy in open plan offices, the degree of need varies considerably with the level of confidentiality. The research confirms that the greater the need for speech privacy, the less satisfactory is the open office concept. Further study in this field is clearly indicated and includes further exploration of the following factors: 1. The definition of people's concerns regarding speech privacy. 2. The economic factors and their implications. 3. The establishment of environmental maxims. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), School of / Graduate

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006. Directed by John Peponis. / Bibliography: p. 309-314. Also available online.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1979 F65 / Master of Science

The University of the Witwatersrand Research Report (MA in Industrial/Organisational Psychology) June 2017 / Numerous studies have shown that the office workspace environment can have an effect on employees’ performance, satisfaction, psychological wellbeing, and other such factors. As such office workspace design has gained more traction in international research and amongst organisations globally. The office space is an organisation’s second largest expense, it is therefore pertinent that organisations, who have chosen to focus on the office to enhance employee wellbeing, choose the most appropriate and optimal environment for their employees. One of the methods to ensure employees are satisfied with the space is to utilise a user-centred approach that allows employees the opportunity to comment on the space and to communicate their needs for the space. A South African organisation that has chosen to develop its space was a health insurance company that was undergoing a workspace redesign for their new buildings. The aim of this research report was to make use of a mixed method design that may have assisted the company, and the other parties involved, in gaining greater insight into whether the layout change had performed its functions effectively, as well as to ensure that the layout had accomplished the company’s goals. The research report focused on the following variables: psychological wellbeing, physical wellbeing, work engagement, job satisfaction, perceived productivity (performance), satisfaction with the workspace layout, and collaboration/interaction. The study consisted of 158 participants. The results of the study had indicated that there was a main effect relationship between department/team groups and job satisfaction. Other results of the study had found that satisfaction with the workplace layout was related to psychological wellbeing, job satisfaction, work engagement, and productivity. The results revealed that the higher the employees’ satisfaction with the workplace layout, the higher their psychological wellbeing, job satisfaction, work engagement and productivity. The qualitative component resulted in themes that were explored both theoretically and inductively. After analysis of the themes, four main themes were devised. Based on exploration of these themes it became apparent that satisfaction with one’s workplace can be contingent on factors such as, noise and distractions, privacy, operational technology (e.g. it software/hardware/systems and WIFI), functional and up-to-date technical equipment, facility accessibility, honouring of commitments/meeting expectations of the space, personal feelings and attitudes towards change and flexibility, time consumption of activities surrounding flexibility, storage facilities that are accessible, territorialism or sabotage, and interaction/communication. / MT 2018

An integrative model of effects of office characteristics and individual differences on workspace satisfaction and work behaviour was developed and tested using survey data from 139 office employees working for four organisations. Workspace experiences, role stress, environmental stressors, and interpersonal interaction were treated as intermediary variables. The variables employed in this study were derived from previous research as well as self-developed, and were divided into seven group variables. The group labels and their respective variables are: (1) office characteristics: office openness, shared office, and number of people sharing; (2) individual differences: job level, organisation tenure, and Type-A behaviour pattern; (3) workspace experience: privacy and distraction; (4) role stress and environmental stressors: role ambiguity, role conflict, superior stressor, co-worker stressor, and physical stressor; (5) interpersonal interaction: attention, social relation, and listening; (6) workspace satisfaction; (7) work behaviour: task performance and friendliness.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 228-243). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.Arch.)--University of Detroit Mercy, 2005. / "2 May 2005". Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-112).

Thomas J. Allen and Peter G. Gerstberger. / "March 1973." This report supersedes working paper no. 579-71 (1971) with title: Report of a field experiment to improve communications in a product engineering department: the non-territorial office, by Thomas J. Allen and Peter G. Gerstberger. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 22).

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