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A Socio-Technical Perspective on the Application of Green Ergonomics to Open-Plan Offices: A Review of the Literature and Recommendations for Future Research

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas A. Norton

    (Arup Group, Ltd., London W1T 4BJ, UK)

  • Oluremi B. Ayoko

    (School of Business, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia)

  • Neal M. Ashkanasy

    (School of Business, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia)

Abstract

Open-plan office (OPO) layouts emerged to allow organizations to adapt to changing workplace demands. We explore the potential for OPOs to provide such adaptive capacity to respond to two contemporary issues for organizations: the chronic challenge of environmental sustainability, and the acute challenges emerging from the great COVID-19 homeworking experiment. We apply a socio-technical systems perspective and green ergonomics principles to investigate the relationship between an OPO environment and the occupants working within it. In doing so, we consider relevant technical and human factors, such as green technology and employee green behavior. We also consider how a green OPO might provide non-carbon benefits such as improving occupant well-being and supporting the emergence of a green organizational culture. Our investigation highlights several avenues through which an OPO designed with green ergonomic principles could benefit occupants, the organizations they work for, and the natural environment of which they are a part and on which they depend. We find reason to suspect that green OPOs could play an important role in sustainable development; and offer a research agenda to help determine whether it is true that OPOs can, indeed, exemplify how “going green” may be good for business.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas A. Norton & Oluremi B. Ayoko & Neal M. Ashkanasy, 2021. "A Socio-Technical Perspective on the Application of Green Ergonomics to Open-Plan Offices: A Review of the Literature and Recommendations for Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-22, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:15:p:8236-:d:599977
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    1. Iris Vilnai-Yavetz & Anat Rafaeli, 2021. "Workspace Integration and Sustainability: Linking the Symbolic and Social Affordances of the Workspace to Employee Wellbeing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-22, October.

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