Person-environment congruence and the design of office settings: An ecological approach.

摘要

A recent call in the research literature of organizational behavior, has been for an examination of the physical environment for its effect on individual functioning at work, and for an integrative framework that describes "transactions" among people and aspects of their work setting. This dissertation presents a theoretical framework and research design that addresses these concerns.;The laboratory phase of this study examined the effects of workstation adjustability, task incentives and the congruence factors, needs, resources and congruence on worker performance, satisfaction and health. These analyses also examined the effects of time on these same outcomes.;In general, the research hypothesis suggested by the above variables proposed that participants in conditions marked by adjustable workstations and high incentives; participants who were measured as high on the resource factor and low on the need factor; and, participants measured as P-E congruent would exhibit higher levels of performance, satisfaction and health compared to their counterparts.;The results presented a complex pattern of relationships among the above factors. Overall, time appeared to have the greatest impact on individual functioning, while incentives and the congruence variables were moderately influential. However, workstation adjustability appeared to be of little influence. A series of correlations among the various indices of performance and satisfaction also was presented and revealed the effect of P-E congruence on their association.;A second interpretation of P-E congruence, based on the ecological principles of Lewin and Barker, proposed a direction vector component of incongruence. The data suggested the existence of such a vector and discussion focused on the implications of a distinction between participants below and above the setting equilibrium.;The experimental results and reviewed literature were combined in the final chapter in an ecological framework of worker functioning. This framework was presented as an integrative format for describing the ecology of work as it impacts on the individual worker and, as a template for generating researchable questions in both laboratory and field settings. Lastly, this framework was examined for its implications for the study, design and management of work environments.