Impact of Environment, Language and Décor on Work Environment

As I looked around my office space, I wondered how this space compares to “most” offices? How does one’s space or office environment affect the organization’s work?

Aside from the aesthetics of the office environment (a topic addressed later), I wanted to focus on the use of technology in the office. Although every employee here has access to a computer, not everyone’s computer is at the same level – some have laptops, desktops; some newly upgraded while others are now outdated; some with multiple monitors, printers (colored and/or black & white), and telephones, and others without. Each desk in each pod is different. Even the types of programs installed on each employee’s computer varies.

In addition, each employee uses his/her cell phone in a different capacity. Some leave their phones on their regular ringtones, others change it to vibrate only; still others, do not have their cell phones out at all, while others have it at their desks all day. The variety in the use and presence of technology is unbelievable. The reason this is more prevalent of an issue in this particular office space is due to the high level of confidential information easily accessible to all employees. How this influences the ethics and work habits of its employees interested me.

According to an article by Sarah Ganly, on leadership and management, “The work environment at a company is influenced by this use of technology in positive and negative ways.” (read full article here: The Impact of Technology and Ethical Standards on Work Environment and Company Culture). She further writes that “productivity and responsibility is implicated by technological methods of monitoring employees.” This goes beyond monitoring who is spending hours of the workday on Facebook, Pinterest, ESPN.com, Amazon, other internet distractions.

In a recent lunch discussion with a colleague, we discussed the dynamics of the office. In addition to the interactions of personalities in the office, there is a variety of focus areas and expertise. In addition, there are flexible working hours within each department, with no set ‘start’ and ‘end’ time for the office. When job hunting, it is not only important to find a job in the field of your interest, but to ensure that the environment of the company is the right fit for you. Cgcareers.org has an article on the dynamics of an organizations’ culture. It includes factors that define an organization’s culture. Below is an excerpt of this list from the article:

• ·    Mission connect – This involves the level of importance of staff commitment to the organization’s mission.  Additionally, it includes how individual staff members contribute to the advancement of the mission.
• ·    Leadership/management styles – The way that staff is managed and the emphasis on leadership in that organization. This also includes the ways decisions are made and problems are solved, whether collaboratively, individually, or with some combination.
• ·    Reporting structure – The way the organization is arranged in terms of hierarchy.  This could mean a tiered or flat system of reporting.
• ·    Language and communication - The internal language or terms used and understood by staff.  Also, specific terms or key messages the organization uses in external communication, as well as general communication style. 
• ·    Physical work environment – The space that the organization occupies, such as offices, cubicles, or open workspaces, and common areas like reception, a kitchen, or a lunch room.
• ·    Staff diversity – The level of importance of diversity of backgrounds, experiences, or beliefs the organization values. Also, the level of importance that staff share racial, ethnic, or economic backgrounds with the communities the organization serves.
• ·    Interpersonal dynamics – The way staff interact.  Whether the environment is highly structured, intense, impersonal, or collegial, for example. 
• ·    Titles – The importance of staff titles and how titles affect how staff perceive their own role and the roles of others. 
• ·    Traditions and celebrations – This includes how the organization acknowledges personal successes and other milestones.  This can be a range of social rituals institutionalized across the organization.
• ·    Work pace –  Whether work is done at a fast, moderate, or leisurely speed.  This also relates to the work/life balance for staff.

(read the full article here: Organizational Culture: Finding the Right Fit)

Another major aspect of the office space is the aesthetic setup of the environment. The office rather “bland” in color and layout. With two long hallways, straddled by a board room and lobby space on either ends. Each side has three – four pods, each pod with four work stations. The layout is open space, with walls only for the EO’s offices, bathrooms, copy room, filing room, resource room, and kitchen. This means that conversations among people above a whisper become common knowledge. One either whispers with a colleague, shares information openly, or moves to a more private/secluded area. Thus, though the layout is perfect for a collaborative environment, due to the open nature of the entire office, collaboration is more limited. This is also in part due to the fact that multiple ‘departments’ are housed together, yielding few topics of collaboration within one’s pod. 

Though the hodge-podge of focus areas and expertise strengthen the diversity of the office, it may also be limiting in certain capacities.

What is your Workspace Personality? Take the quiz to find out: Quiz: What's Your Workplace Personality?