Measuring the perceptions of physical environment comfort on office employees' performance : a case study at the Durban University of Technology, South Africa

Abstract

In a dynamic world of office environment where the office is continually changing, there has been a huge need for addressing physical environment comfort of employees to improve their performance, while retaining a happy and healthy workforce. It is against this backdrop that the study was carried out to measure the perceptions of physical environment comfort on employee performance at Durban University of Technology (DUT). A model of office physical elements was used as a conceptual framework to highlight physical environment comfort elements that affects employee performance. The objectives of the study were to measure perceptions of physical environment comfort on employee performance, as well as identify the relationship between physical environment comfort and employee performance. This research adopted a mixed method approach, using the DUT as a case study, with questionnaires and interviews employed as data collection instruments. The target population comprised 81 administrative staff members, including six interviewees who were Head of Departments (HoDs) based at all six DUT campuses. The findings generally indicated a high agreement level with regard to the role of office furniture’s comfort, favourable temperature, good office design and welcoming colours as important in increasing their performance. There were, however, divisions and high disagreements where office furniture’s flexibility is concerned in addition to the strain it caused. Moreover, the amount of noise across offices was found to be quite distracting. It was concluded that the academic administrative staff generally expressed positive perceptions on the importance of physical environment comfort for office employee performance, echoed by the interviewed HoDs. In conclusion, office employees and HoDs expressed positive perceptions on the importance of physical environment comfort for improved performance. This makes it critical for DUT management to address areas of weakness on physical environment comfort for improved productivity.