Work Places: The Psychology of the Physical Environment in Offices and Factories

by Eric Sundstrom, Mary Graehl Sundstrom

Overview

How do the physical surroundings affect people who work in offices and factories? Work Places attempts to answer this question by summarising the psychological and social influences of work settings. Environmental psychologist Eric Sundstrom, in collaboration with Mary Graehl Sundstrom, discusses research and theory concerning individual satisfaction and performance, interpersonal relationships, group cohesion and organisational effectiveness. Separate chapters address the physical aspects of the environment - temperature and air quality, lighting and windows, noise, music, colour and workstations - the symbolic aspects of the work environment - status and self-identity - and issues of communication, privacy, small groups and the organisation as a whole. Work Places offers the reader an integration of research, theory and history. Professionals and students in psychology, management, architecture and environmental design will find it informative, interesting and readable.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521319478
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	02/28/1986
Series:	Environment and Behavior
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 1.06(d)

Table of Contents

Series forward; Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction; Part I. The Past: 2. Historical view of offices and factories; 3. Psychology of the work place; Part II. The Individual Worker: 4. Psychological processes; 5. Lighting and windows; 6. Temperature and air; 7. Noise; 8. Music; 9. Colour; 10. Work stations and supporting facilities; Part III. Interpersonal Relations: 11. Symbolic workspace: self-identity and status; 12. Communication; 13. Privacy; 14. Small groups; Part IV. Organisations: 15. Office and factories as components of organisations; Part V. The Future: 16. The future of offices and factories; 17. Conclusions; References; Indexes.