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The triggering effect of office design on employee creative performance: an exploratory investigation based on Duffy’s conceptualization

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Abstract

The physical work environment has a far-reaching effect on employee creativity. However, the research conceptualizing office design typically focuses on specific rather than broad dimensions. In this study, the effectiveness of design for autonomy and interactive office design is investigated, based on Duffy’s office design model. We take an interactive perspective and propose that office environment (design for autonomy and interactive office design) interacts with individual factors (intrinsic motivation and diversity ideology) to influence employees’ level of creativity. We first developed and validated items of office design and diversity ideology, and then tested our hypotheses in the main study. It was found that employees with strong intrinsic motivation and diversity ideology made the optimal use of office design for promoting the level of creativity. Finally, the theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Business Administration, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Nothpoint, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

    Millissa F. Y. Cheung

  2. Department of Management and Marketing, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, People’s Republic of China

    Iris D. Zhang

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  1. Millissa F. Y. Cheung
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Appendix

Appendix

Office Design for Autonomy

To what extent you think you have enjoyed…

  1. 1.

    working with sit-to-stand desks, keyboard trays, and adjustable task chairs.

  2. 2.

    designing the height, color, and configuration of your own desk based on personal preference.

  3. 3.

    designing an office with long or movable desks that can be changed into a circular break-out space to work.

  4. 4.

    not having any fixed working tables and chairs.

  5. 5.

    being allowed to use movable glides for enough room space to hold emergency meetings anytime.

  6. 6.

    making small adjustments at work, such as moving a storable cabinet or adding a monitor and turning on a task light.

Interactive Office Design

To what extent you…

  1. 1.

    use a multifunctional workspace with touchdown spaces and meeting rooms with folding walls.

  2. 2.

    use alcoves and other peripheral areas for locating others whom you want to interact with.

  3. 3.

    use unassigned seating areas.

  4. 4.

    have an office with all-round visibility.

  5. 5.

    have an interactive landscape for meeting others, including a balcony and a central staircase.

  6. 6.

    have plenty of relaxed gathering spaces to interact with others in.

  7. 7.

    use whiteboards or furniture on wheels that facilitate people to interact and hash out their ideas.

Diversity Ideology.

Please indicate how strong your belief is in the worth/value of working with people who have …

  1. 1.

    different levels of positions.

  2. 2.

    different ages.

  3. 3.

    different industries.

  4. 4.

    different racial backgrounds.

  5. 5.

    different departments.

  6. 6.

    different work disciplines.

  7. 7.

    different organizational tenures.

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Cheung, M.F.Y., Zhang, I.D. The triggering effect of office design on employee creative performance: an exploratory investigation based on Duffy’s conceptualization. Asia Pac J Manag 38, 1283–1304 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-020-09717-x

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