title: The relative benefits of green versus lean office space: three field experiments.
abstract: Principles of lean office management increasingly call for space to be stripped of extraneous decorations so that it can flexibly accommodate changing numbers of people and different office functions within the same area. Yet this practice is at odds with evidence that office workers' quality of life can be enriched by office landscaping that involves the use of plants that have no formal work-related function. To examine the impact of these competing approaches, 3 field experiments were conducted in large commercial offices in The Netherlands and the U.K. These examined the impact of lean and "green" offices on subjective perceptions of air quality, concentration, and workplace satisfaction as well as objective measures of productivity. Two studies were longitudinal, examining effects of interventions over subsequent weeks and months. In all 3 experiments enhanced outcomes were observed when offices were enriched by plants. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
authors: School of Psychology, Cardiff University.
authors: Marlon
authors: M
authors: Nieuwenhuis
authors: School of Psychology, University of Exeter.
authors: Craig
authors: C
authors: Knight
authors: Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, University of Groningen.
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Postmes
authors: School of Psychology, University of Queensland.
authors: S Alexander
authors: SA
authors: Haslam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings / Q000379:methods*; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010944:Plants; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*