Unit 9 - Our Workplaces Flashcards
What can we learn about the connections between the environment and behaviours from the famous Hawthorne studies conducted more than 75 years ago?
Employee environment relations are complex and three important observations can be gained.
- The study refuted naïve environmental determinism and demonstrated the importance of the subjective perceptions of the employees i.e. if a bulb is replaced it must be an improvement.
- Employees were sometimes moved to a different room and felt special and its physical features affected performance more than the environmental factors chosen for examination by the researchers.
- The layout of the room facilitated social contact among employees and probably encouraged to form and maintain informal norms about how much to produce in a given day.
Describe briefly the factors that influence the effects of noise on work performance.
As sounds source becomes more meaningful and its predictability and controllability decrease, the sound is more likely to be perceived as noise and to negatively affect work behavior.
The relationship between noise and performance is complex but may suggest six conclusions
- Task matters and work may be grouped into four broad tasks: cognitive (reading, writing, reasoning, and creative), vigilance (monitoring others, a machine, or production line), motor (manual manipulation of tools), and social (meetings, evaluations of employees).
- A given task may be familiar and well-learned or not for an employee
- Tasks may be relatively simple or complex.
- We may be asked to engage in one task or multiple at a time. etc. – Employee performance will not be affected by continuous loud noise when an employee (1) performs a routine task, (2) Merely needs to react to signals, (3) is informed when to be ready and (4) is given clear visual signals. - Employee characteristics like gender, age and personality matter.
3, Characteristics of sound are important - novel sounds generally reduce performance. loud and uncontrollable noise generally worsens mood
- Certain employee-noise combinations affect performance. - ambient sound level matches their preferred sound level or are able to adapt to the sound.
- Aspects of the environment affect the relation between noise and performance, but not always in expected ways.
- Noise can affect performance after it ends. - for worse or better.
Is there any evidence that music increases productivity? Explain your answer.
Light music can increase productivity even in modern workplaces, with their greater cognitive demands, although sometimes it does harm performance. When you consider the vast variety of tasks that employees undertake at work, and the vast variety of musical styles, tempos, and volumes, you will agree that no simple conclusion can be drawn at present.
How do office workers feel about noise and about music at the workplace?
Office workers believe noise is a serious issue, they do not like it, believe it is bad for their productivity, and some say it is the single worst issue to deal with. Noise may also cause stress and affect job satisfaction.
Most like music and believe it improves their productivity, but about 10 percent of employees definitely do not like music at work.
Outline the effects of workplace noise on health and stress.
Noise may cause hearing loss, change brain structure, unpredictable noise exposure increases risk for cardiovascular disease,, sore throat from yelling, stress-caused reactions like decreased motivation, and cumulative stress can weaken immune system.
Summarize the effects of noise on workplace social behaviours.
Noise leads to feelings of decreased privacy, as it inhibits confidential conversation. -influenced by open plan offices.
Chronic exposure to noise is associated with increased tension, depression, anger, and fatigue.
Noise finally affects employee judgements about co-workers - (recommended starting salary study)
Define effective temperature and core body temperature.
Effective Temperature : Is an index composed of air temperature, humidity, and air movement measures. It has replaced that of simple temperature as a better indicator of indoor climate.
Core Body Temperature : Takes some time to change, so short-term exposure to a wide variety of effective temperatures may not affect work behavior. - therefore is sometimes more important than effective temperature in research
Describe briefly the effects of temperature on work performance.
As temperatures rise into the very hot range, productivity drops, especially for heavy manual labor, but sometimes even for complex cognitive work. Cold temperatures generally affect performance of work that requires fine movements and sensitive touch from employees hands at a certain point (about 14C or 57F).
Cool temperatures in offices may improve performance of cognitive tasks and reduce post-work fatigue, although warmer temperatures are preferred.
In general, the more complex the task, the more that performance will worsen with heat or cold.
The length of exposure to heat or cold can change whether or not temperature affects performance.
Then relationship between performance and temperature is complicated however, and depends on other factors such as coping strategies, type of task, and situation.
Define comfort envelopes. What influences employees’ feelings of comfort and satisfaction with temperature?
Comfort envelopes are ranges of temperature that support the comfort of an employee working in a setting.
Feelings about temperature are affected not only by the actual temperature, but by what the individual thinks the temperature is, and even by room décor. Individuals report feeling warmer, at equal temperatures when the heating devices are pointed at them, the décor is more luxurious, and when thermometers are fixed to report higher than actual temperatures. - ones perception of a situation is often more important than the objective characteristics of the situation (Hawthorne Principle).
Perceived control also affects satisfaction of temperature but may lead to discomfort of holding responsibility.
Does a comfortable temperature ensure that a worker will be productive? Explain your answer.
No, people generally prefer warmer temperatures, but report greater energy decline when working in these conditions. However, performance of office-like work was significantly better in temperatures about (18F/9C) below the comfort envelop standard. Therefore, although cooler temperatures are less comfortable and are not preferred, these conditions generally produce less fatigue and greater productivity.
Summarize the effects of air quality on work performance.
Jobs that require prolonged alertness but have low stimulation, performance may be affected by moderate levels of carbon monoxide.
Bad-smelling air seems to impair performance of relatively complex tasks.
Decreased levels of air ionization may also negatively effect performance. - higher levels of negative ion concentrations in the air seemed to significantly increase reaction time and improve basic perceptual motor tasks. Some people may be more ion sensitive than others., Ions may act as arousal agents i.e. increasing aggressive behavior in type A personalities
Finally, fragrance may improve performance temporarily if they are pleasant.
What is the sick building syndrome? Describe briefly what may contribute to this syndrome.
Sick buildings are structures that contain airborne health-threatening substances, whereas Sick Building Syndrome refers to the collection of health problems linked to these substances.
Two syndromes have been distinguished: building related illness (a cluster of symptoms found in all office buildings to differing degrees), and building-specific illness (a cluster of symptoms that occurs only in air-conditioned buildings).
Things that may contribute to this syndrome include: modern chemicals, tight sealing, poor ventilation, noxious fungi, poor duct design, a history of smoking, physiological susceptibility, mass psychogenic illness ( workers frightening one another into illness), etc.
Summarize the influence of air quality on work satisfaction and social behaviour.
Bad odors bring like minded people closer together and different people farther apart - depending on motivation to work cigarette can have minor or major effects.
Lack of control over noticeably bad air can decrease satisfaction.
Outline the effects of lighting on each of the following:
work performance
employees’ feelings
health and safety in the workplace
Performance : Light affects performance primarily when it is insufficient or improperly placed. Additionally, Optimally light depends on the task, The work surface is important (for example if it causes glare), and the angle of the light is important (for some tasks performance is enhanced when light is diffused, whereas carefully angles lighting is best in other circumstances). Additionally, lighting may affect biological clock and be able to increase arousal and alertness for night shifts.
Feelings : In general darker offices and factories may be less satisfying. Sunlight is often highly desirable and is associated with greater job satisfaction.
Health and Safety : Ultraviolet light (rare indoors) assists in the formation of vitamin D and in the body’s processing of calcium. Artificial lighting has change the biological rhythms of most industrialized people. Glare causes eye strain, and is found in many offices.
Those who could change their lighting conditions are less likely to report illness symptoms (as per study).
Employee safety can be affected especially in industry settings by glare.
Summarize the effects of spatial arrangements on work performance.
When an office has fewer barriers (walls or partitions), withdrawal rates are higher. Offices with high employee densities (little space for each person) jeopardize performances, especially if the work involves physical mobility and interaction. Performance rates decline when offices have a combination of higher density and closer interpersonal spaces.
When irrelevant speech abounds, employees believe their workload is higher, and it affects their performance. Plants improve mood, but may actually decline performance.
