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From: bks@ALFA.berkeley.edu (Brad Sherman)
Newsgroups: comp.software-eng
Subject: Is it hot in here or is it me?
Keywords: workspace office cubicle status book-review
Message-ID: <12849@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: 1 Aug 88 20:23:23 GMT
Sender: usenet@agate.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: bks@ALFA.berkeley.edu (Brad Sherman)
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
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For those interesed in the office/cubicle debate and working conditions in
general:

	"WORK PLACES, The Psychology of the physical environment in
	offices and factories," Eric Sundstrom and Mary Graehl Sundstrom,
	Cambridge University Press 1986, ISBN 0-521-31947-1, 461pp. PB

This book is extremely readable and is an attempt to survey and comment on
important workplace studies to date.  Includes chapters on psychological
processes, lighting and windows, temperature and air, noise, music, colors,
work-stations and supporting facilites, self-identity and status,
communication, privacy, small groups etc. etc.

Anxious managers might be surprised to find that, given a free choice in the
matter, not everyone will opt for a private office.  Problems involving
private offices seem to stem from the fact that, historically, they have
been assigned based on status, not need.

In a more humorous vein, it has been found difficult to complete controlled
studies regarding music and productivity.  It seems that once music has been 
introduced to the office, workers become indignant if it is taken away
(because of experimental protocols or for any other reason).

		-Brad Sherman


Computer rooms are not healthy for programmers and other living things.