Sense of Place in the Workplace:

The Relationship Between Personal Objects

and Job Satisfaction and Motivation
Nancy G . Miller, Ph.D., West Virginia University, Ann Erickson, Ph.D.,
and Becky Love Yust, Ph.D., University of Minnesota

ABSTRACT

This study explored the nature of sense of place and how it might function for the workplace, devel-
oped and tested a survey instrument to measure sense of place in the workplace, and determined
what relationship existed between that sense of place and the level of iob satisfaction and motivation.
Desk-bound employees completed a questionnaire recording opinions, attitudes, and physical
characteristics of their workplaces and themselves.
Descriptivefeatures of the work places were recorded as frequencies. Sense of place was opera-
tionalized to include comfort, control, noise, privacy, and personalization in the workplace. Social
interaction, time spent at work, sense of place, and motivation were identified as intervening vari-
ables. Job satisfaction was the dependent variable. The data was collapsed by factor analysis, indexes
were formed, and correlations calculated within and between indexes.
Employees who displayed work-related objects were positively correlated to motivation. Positive cor-
relations between lob satisfaction and motivation were demonstrated by display of personal objects
and the ability to choose and arrange work area furnishings.
Sense of place is an amorphous concept that can be adapted to interior settings. It can be measured
by combining a variety of factors in the workplace. Because sense of place in the workplace is sig-
nificantly related to lob satisfaction and motivation, designers and their clients must evaluate the impact
of allowing the employee to establish sense of place in the workplace.

The employee in today’s corporate culture must be ready to describe how sense of place in the workplace can be
for changes in style of work, physical surroundings, and measured, and (3)to determine what, if any, relationship
technology. The physical surroundings of an employee’s exists between sense of place in the employee’s workspace
work area may be reconfigured to accommodate new pro- and the level of job satisfaction and motivation.
jects, corporate downsizing, or changes influenced by
current market demands. Project teams may be formed Literature Review
and team members vary from one project to the next. For
some, the workplace has become an arena of change that Researchers in the field of environmental behavior seem to
may result in confusion and loss of identity and sense of hold one commonly shared belief: the idea that the phe-
place in the workplace. These changes challenge designers nomenon of sense of place is a universally held concept
to create a workplace that conforms to employee personal but it is defined by and unique to each individual. For the
and work needs, enhances job satisfaction, and motivates purposes of this research, the concept of sense of place
them to do well while maintaining productivity. was operationalized as being an environment made up of
objects which hold meaning for the individual.
The research reported in this paper focuses on the idea
that physical surroundings contribute to and affect one’s job The phenomenon of sense of place, as reflected in the lit-
satisfaction and motivation. Specifically,it investigates the erature, is ambiguous. However, it is a “concept that
role of sense ofplace in the workplace and the role objects appears in the literature of virtually all peoples of the
might play in creating sense of place. The purpose of the world” (pontxki, 2994, p .l\\.Tkekspmx\amc.. 0%sc-msc-
ot d a c e varies with the individual. Researchers have SUE-

8 Copyright 2001, Interior Design Educators Council,

JOURNALOF INTERIORDESIGN
J o u t ~ofhterior
I Design 27(1), 35-44
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 SENSE OF PLACE IN THE WORKPLACE

MILLER, ERICKSON, A N D WST

...the objects of importance in this study are those objects which

collectively hold meaning for the individual and
consequently give meaning to the space.

gested that the objects or features meaningful to an indi- with mobility (Ahrentzen, 1992; Clemence, 1993,
vidual in constructing a sense of place might include Proshansky, 1990). For example, Ahrentzen wrote that
architectural characteristics of a building (Milligan, 1998); sense of place might shift as people age. He noted that
the atmosphere or character of an interior; emotions and with increasing age, more importance was placed on fur-
cultural background of the individual (Theobald, 1997); niture, irreplaceable photographs, and other items
objects with special meanings (Arefi, 1998; Boschetti, associated with meaning. Therefore, sense of place must be
1995; Milligan, 1998);locatable place (Sandweiss, 1997); seen as an enduring phenomenon, yet one that changes in
plantings and landscape contours; odors, colors, and structure over time.
sounds (Shamai, 1991);or specific events or rituals.
It is important to differentiate between the use of objects
Character of Sense of Place to indicate status or to define territory and the more inclu-
It seems that the size and location of sense of place is not sive concept of sense of place. Objects may be used to
consistent from person to person (Altman & Low, 1992; mark territory or to imply status within the organization.
Brown & Perkins, 1992; Hummon, 1992; Shamai, 1991). However, the objects of importance in this study are those
Altman and Low (1992) suggest that for some, sense of objects which collectively hold meaning for the individual
place may be associated with very large places (universe, and consequently give meaning to the space. One must
world, nation), medium-sized places (neighborhoods, com- recall that the phenomenon of sense of place is a combi-
munities, and towns), smaller-sized places (buildings,
nation of factors, and objects are but one of those factors.
homes, specific rooms) or very small places (specific
objects). In addition to the physical characteristics that Relationship of Design
make up sense of place, there are other important factors to the Business Environment
to consider. Research in organizational behavior has suggested that the
Research suggests that the character and importance of physical setting can influence employee job satisfaction
sense of place might shift during a person’s life cycle and and productivity (Bitner, 1992; Davis & Ventre, 1990;

Figure 1
Theoretical Model
Factors Conritutingthe OrganizationalWork Setting ( P o m s & Robertson, 1992)

Environment

Organizing
Arrangements
Physical
Setting

Technology

social
Factors

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 SENSE OF PLACE IN THE WORKPLACE

MILLER, ERICKSON, AND YUST

It is widely suggested in the literature

that there are links between the employees’ perception
of the office appearance and job satisfaction.

Porras and Robertson, 1992).The theoretical framework for of sense of place in the workplace upon the individual
this research was based on the Porras and Robertson (1992) employee and subsequently on the employer could be
model from the field of organizational development. It was extensive.
adapted to the individual within the organization.
Business Environment
Porras and Robertson (1992) maintained that organiza- Researchers believe that accompanying the physical and
tional development has two primary purposes. The first psychological components of sense of place is one’s iden-
purpose was stated as improvement in the organization’s tity and well-being (Cuba & Hummon, 1993; Donnina,
ability to perform or reach its goals. The second purpose 1994; Feldman, 1990; Marcus, 1992; Sandweiss, 1997).In
was stated as the “improvement in the development of the fact, Marcus (1992, p. 88) suggested that institutional or
organization’s members-that is, in their psychological corporate rules that severely limit personalization of the
well-being, their level of self-actualization or realization, work area “can be serious inhibitors of self-expression in
and deircapabilities” (p. 723-24).It is this second purpose the physical environment, and thus [inhibitors] of a posi-
that has been largely ignored in the organizational tive sense of self-identity.” Porras and Robertson (1992)
development literature and is directly related to this believed that a sense of well-being is important in an
research. The model shown in Figure 1 is composed employee’s development.
of four basic categories that constitute the work setting:
organizing arrangements, social factors, physical settings, Motivation. After an extensive review of the literature,
and technology. Katzell and Thompson (1990) postulated that there are
seven imperatives influencing an individual’s motivation: 1.
There is empirical evidence that an employee’s motivation Personal motives and values (personnel selection, job pre-
and job satisfaction may be affected by ambient factors views, and motive training); 2. Incentives and rewards (job
(those factors not controlled by the employee) such as tem- enrichment of various types); 3. Reinforcement (behavior
perature, lighting, and white noise (Brill et al., 1984). analysis, financial reinforcement programs, nonfinancial
Further, the lack of ergonomic furniture (Carlopio and reinforcements, and self-management); 4. Goal theory
Gardner, 1992)and inefficient furniture arrangement (Davis (goal-setting programs, and management by objectives; 5.
& Ventre, 1990)may negatively affect an employee’s ability Sociotechnicalsystems; 6. Social and group factors (division
to work efficiently (Spreckelmeyer, 1993). Although the of labor, group composition, team development and lead-
need for creating a sense of place for the elderly and in the ership); and 7. Personal and material resources. The last
home has been widely documented, there is little empirical imperative directly applies to this research.
research documenting the importance of sense of place for
other age groups or for those in the work environment. Job Satisfaction. Job satisfaction research can be divided
into two distinct groups; one group assesses the impact
Can concepts of sense of place in the home be transferred individuals’ desires, expectations, and needs have upon
to sense of place in the workplace? Hansen and Altman their work. The second group of literature investigates the
(1976)found that those students who personalized their relationship between job satisfaction and environmental
rooms early and whose decorations covered a large area of factors such as suitable working conditions, adequate pay,
their dormitory walls had higher grade point averages and
and pleasant interpersonal relationships with one’s peers
lower university dropout rates than students who did not
and supervisors.
personalize their rooms to any extent. Could this trans-
late into higher productivity and lower employee turnover Regardless of the content of a particular job, people may
in the work setting? The study of objects provides one become disenchanted if they must work in an unsuitable
avenue for the study of sense of place in the workplace. Is working environment. It is widely suggested in the litera-
sense of place a component of productivity in the work- ture that there are links between the employees’ perceptions
place? In an era in which working adults spend about half of the office appearance and job satisfaction. To preserve
their weekday waking hours in the workplace, the impact that linkage and the positive attitudes toward appearance,

W
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 SENSE OF PLACE IN THE WORKPLACE

MILLER, ERICKSON, AND YUST

there need to be environmental changes, from either orga- between sense of place and employee motivation and job
nizational actions (for example, office redesign) or employee satisfaction. Due to the exploratory nature of the study, the
actions (for example, personalization of work areas). research questions were necessarily broad in scope:
Vischer (1989, p. 150)identified that, “The seven ambient 1. Was there a correlation between individual
factors in the work space (spatial comfort, privacy, lighting or groups of objects and employee motivation
comfort, thermal comfort, air quality, noise control, and or job satisfaction?
building noise)” account for 40 percent of environmental
workability. This means that 60 percent of the reasons 2. Did the ability to control work area envi-
people have for being able (or unable) to get their work ronment show a positive relationship t o
done in an environment can be attributed to “social and motivation or job satisfaction?
psychological factors, organizational factors, and situa- 3. Was there a correlation between the sense-
tional effects” (Vischer, 1989, p. 150).Is it possible, then, of-place index and motivation or job
that sense of place can be included in Vischer’s psycho- satisfaction?
logical factors and situational effects?
4.Did any of the demographic characteristics
show a positive relationship with specific
Methodology objects?
Purpose of the Research
This research consists of three distinct areas of exploratory 5. Did this study support findings in the lit-
investigation: The first area explores the nature of sense of erature demonstrating positive correlations
place in the workplace to determine what concepts might between employee motivation and job
be consistently included in the phenomenon and to deter- satisfaction?
mine if objects were a part of sense of place in the A sense-of-place index was created by recording the
workplace. The second area of research focuses on devel- employee’s physical comfort, perception of control, number
oping a tool that could measure sense of place in the and type of objects, impact of noise, and level of privacy.
workplace. The third area of investigation tests the mea- These factors, summed together with the factors of social
surement tool and analyzes the results for relationships interaction, degree of motivation, and amount of time

Fiaure 2
Empirical Model

Adequecy of
Inanne
’ Job
Setisfadon

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38
 ...the concepts of physical comfort, perception of control,
presence of noise, and feelings of privacy were factors frequently
mentioned when describing their own sense of place.

spent at work, created the index. The sense-of-placeindex working environment, social interactions in the work place,
and motivation became the intervening variable in the and a range of demographic characteristics. A contact
model shown in Figure 2. The dependent variable in the person in each of 17 businesses with desk-bound employees
research became the employee’s expressed level of job sat- distributed a total of three hundred questionnaires in a
isfaction. Independent variables were those factors suggested large metropolitan area. Thus, the sample was not truly
by the literature that affect motivation and job satisfac: random. The lack of a randomly selected sample makes
tion: demographic characteristics of age, gender, education it imprudent to generalize the findings to the global pop-
level, appropriateness of education for current employ- ulation of office workers. However, Singleton, Strait, and
ment, number of children living in the home, adequacy of Strait (1993) stated that as long as a survey was designed
income, and quality of life. only for those volunteers who wish to participate, self-
selection should permit reasonable generalization to the
Procedures Used in the Research target population.
The research for this project was carried out in three stages.
First, a preliminary study was carried out to explore the
nature of sense of place. Second, scripted personal inter- Findings and Discussion
views were conducted with two different groups, business Two hundred four questionnaires were returned (68%
managers and employees. The business managers were return rate). Of the questionnaires returned, 161 were
surveyed to gain information about formal personaliza- usable in the data analysis. The distribution of the sample
tion policies present in their workplace. The interviews by gender (39 or 24.22% male, 122 or 75.78% female)
with desk-bound employees were conducted to gather a reflected the average gender distribution (25.66% male,
wider and more detailed range of information concerning 74.34% female) within the participating businesses. The
sense of place in the workspace and how it might be median age range was 31-40 years of age.
demonstrated. The third stage of the research involved
distribution and analysis of a questionnaire. Question #1
The first research question was designed to examine the
The first stage, a preliminary study, consisted of a SO-item, relationship (if any) between individual or groups of objects
drop-off, self-administered survey with one follow-up letter and employee motivation, job satisfaction, or perceived
that was distributed to 53 desk-bound employees in an productivity. Employees were asked to record the pres-
academic administration setting. The data from the pre- ence of 16 objects typically found in work areas.
liminary study were reviewed for common themes that No significant correlations were found between specific
were then integrated into the larger research instrument. objects in the workplace and the employee’s motivation
Content analysis of the first interviews indicated that the or job satisfaction.
concepts of physical comfort, perception of control, pres-
Factor analysis was used to identify seemingly unrelated
ence of noise, and feelings of privacy were factors frequently
variables that displayed a significant correlation. When
mentioned by participants when describing their own sensethe broad group of objects present in the office were
of place. In the second stage of interviews with 50 business
grouped together using factor analysis, two distinct types
managers, it was indicated that overall, there were no of objects were identified. The first group included work-
written policies restricting personalization of the work-related objects such as memos, books, and papers. The
place other than elimination of those articles that mightsecond group of objects isolated with factor analysis
infringe on sexual harassment rights. included objects that are more personal: decorative objects,
The third stage used information from the preliminary personal books, and memorabilidsouvenirs. There was
study and interviews with business managers and desk- no significant correlation found between the display of
bound employees. An 84-item questionnaire was developed work-related objects and the display of personal objects.
to record employee’s opinions and attitudes, about their Using the groups identified during factor analysis, posi-

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 SENSE OF PLACE IN THE WORKPLACE

MILLER, ERICKSON, AND YUST

Table 1
___

Pearson's Product Moment CorrdationCoefficients for Demographic, obiw,Mothtion, Job Satibfaaion, Perreived
ProductivityVariables.
~~ ._- - ~~

Age Gender Educ Educ. Children Adeq Qualiiy Work- Personal Motivu job Satis-
level Prep. In the Income of Life related Oblects tton faction
Home Obiects

Age 1.000
Gender ,131 1.000
Education . I 17 ,271" 1.000
Level
Education ,008 .094 ,131 1 .ooo
Preparation
Presence of ,168' -.030 -.072 -.004 1.000
Children in
the Home
Adequacy of .183* ,162' .179* .013 ,100 1.000
Household
Income
Perceived .020 .05 1 ,093 ,066 ,092 ,454""" 1.000
Quality of life
Work-related .01o** .2 15" .253** ,080 -.015 ,094 ,076 1,000
Objects
Personal Objects -.049 -.ooo -.018 ,016 .123 ,005 ,123 -.056 1.000
Motivation .021 ,152 .008 ,055 .091 .399'*' .423'*' .172' .217* 1.ooO
lob Satisfaction ,037 .167* ,145 ,019 ,117 ,328"' ,388"' ,017 ,017 .584*'* 1.000
* p=<.05
**
p=<.Ol
*** p=<.OOl

tive correlations were found between those individuals groups emerged within the concept of control of the work
who &splayed work-related objects and motivation (r=.172 area environment. The first group evaluated the ability of
pc.05) , but no correlation with job satisfaction, Those the subject to control the level of noise and privacy and the
individuals who displayed personal objects displayed a feeling of control in the work area. The second group
significant positive relationship with motivation (r=.217 established the ability of the subject to choose and arrange
p = c . O S ) . There is no previous research linking objects the furnishings of the work area. The two areas of control
found in the work place with motivation, but this finding identified by use of factor analysis were significantly cor-
does not seem surprising (Table 1). related with one another (r=.336 p=<.OOO), meaning that
the subject who could control the furnishings in the work
Question #2 environment was also likely to be able to control the noise
Did the ability to control work area environment show a and privacy present in the work area (Table 2).
significant positive relationship to motivation or job sat- Even though both types of control were signhcantly related
isfaction? No significant correlations were found when to one another, the ability to choose and arrange work
considering the individual work area environment (ability area furnishings was positively correlated with motiva-
to choose furnishings, to allow rearrangement of furnish- tion (r=.163 pc.05) and job satisfaction (r=.245 pc.005)
ings, to control noise, level of privacy, space, and ability to while the ability to control noise and privacy was not sig-
display what is favored) together with motivation and job nificantly correlated either motivation or job satisfaction.
satisfaction. Again, using factor analysis, two distinct Previous research has documented that noise and lack of

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 SENSE OF PLACE IN THE WORKPLACE

MILLER, ERICKSON, AND WST

Table 2
Pearson'sProduct-momentCorrelation Coefficient Matrix for Sense of Place Indexes (n = 161).
_________ ___ ..... ... . . - ~~~ __ .. .
Variable Physical Feelings Able to Adjust level of Work- Personal Perception Motivation Job Satis-
Comfort of Choose level of Noise related Obiects of Privacy faction
Comfort Furniture Noise and Obiects
Privacy
Physicol 1.000
Comfort
Feelings of -.0686 1.000
Comfort
Choose .2772** ,0341 1.ooO
Furniture
Adlust Level ,4583"' .5082*** ,3358"' 1 .OOO
of Noise
8. Privacy
level of Noise -.2941*** -.2869"' -.0477 -.4965*** 1 .OOO
Work-related ,3426"' .3621*** ,1514 ,6403"'" -.4806"* 1.000
Oblects
Personal .0115 ,0132 ,0387 -.0580 ,0603 -.0567 1.000
Oblects
Perception -.0148 ,0318 ,0580 ,0603 ,0387 -.0393 .1227 1.000
O f Privacy
Motivotion -.0056 .2476'* ,1634' ,0628 -.2453** ,1721 .2 170* ,0393 1.000
Job ,0312 .2255*' ,2450' .0327 -.1675' .2889*** ,0179 -.0019 .5847*" 1.000
Satisfaction
Significant p = < .05
+*
Significant p = < ,005
***
Significant p = < ,000

Tabb 3
Pmrson's Product-momentCorrelationC d c i e n t Matrix for Sense of Place Index, Mothdon, and Job Satisfadon
(n 161).
!??ak'e_ .- - - - - Sense of Place Index . Motivotion __
Sense of Place Index 1 000
Motivation 170* 1 000
Job Satisfoction 219* 584"' 1 000
Significant p = < 05
**+ Significant p = < 001

privacy have been significant complaints among office combining those components thought to be a part of an
workers. It is surprising, then, that a negative correlation employee's Sense of place (physical comfort, feelings of
was not f w n d between the ability to control noise and comfort, control of noise and privacy, control of selection
privacy and motivation or job satisfaction. and arrangement of work area furnishings, level of noise
Question #3 present in work area, perception of privacy, presence of
Was a correlation demonstrated between the sense-of- w o r k d a t e d objects, and presence of personal objects)
place index and motivation or job satisfaction? An index was formed and used as one variable. By forming the

rn
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 SENSE OF PLACE IN THE WORKPLACE

MILLER, ERICKSON, AND YUST

The display of work-related objects was significantly correlated

with increasing age..., men..., and higher levels of education.

index, individuals’ perceptions about the work place were Conclusions and Implications
factored into a single variable: sense of place. Significant
correlations were found between the sense-of-place index
for Further Study
and motivation (r=.170 p=<.OS) and job satisfaction The purpose of this study was threefold. The first was to
(r=.219p=c.05)(Table 3). explore the nature of sense of place; second, to describe
how sense of place in the workplace could be measured;
Question #4 and finally, to determine what, if any, relationship existed
Did any of the demographic characteristics show a signif- between sense of place in the employee’s workspace and the
icant relationship with specific objects? Demographic level of job satisfaction and motivation.
characteristics for this research included age, gender, level
of education, appropriateness of education for work, ages Exploration of the Nature of Sense of Place
of children in the home (if any), adequacy of household Exploration of the nature of sense of place within related
income, and quality of life. Correlations were calculated fields was necessary to compensate for the lack of a
between each of the demographic characteristics and work- common definition of sense of place within the discipline
related objects and personal objects. of interior design. It is generally believed that sense of
place is a universally held phenomenon, but it is individ-
The display of work-related objects was significantly cor- ually defined; it is an environment imbued with meaning
related with increasing age (r=.010p=<.Ol),men (r=.215
for the individual; the nature of an individual’s sense of
p=<.Ol) and higher levels of education (r=.253 p=<.Ol)
place may be positive or negative and may change over
(Table 1). The display of objects of a more personal nature
time; and each person may include physiological, psycho-
was not significantly correlated with the remaining demo-
logical, and/or sociological characteristics in hidher own
graphic characteristics.
sense of place.
The demographic information included as a part of the
The lack of a common definition for sense of place con-
survey instrument was based on literature in the area of
tinues to present a problem when exploring this concept
motivation and job satisfaction. Typically, increasing age
within interior design. Phenomenological study in the area
demonstrates a correlation with increasing levels of satis-
faction. Th~strend is not consistent with the findings in this of sense of place and its impact on the end users is pamc-
study ( ~ 0 3 p=.645)
7 (Table 1). Previous research also ularly suited to the field of interior design, but continued
supports the concept that educational preparation and study of significance w ill depend on finding a suitable def-
type of work being performed is significantly related to inition of the concept. Evidence supporting the belief that
increased levels of motivation. The findings in this study do sense of place may be positive or negative and that an
not support the literature (r=.O55 p=.508). Inquiry in the individual’s sense of place may change over time is anec-
field of child and family studies has documented that the dotal only, thus demonstrating the need for empirical
increasing numbers of children present in the home is investigation in these areas. Additionally, the body of lit-
strongly correlated with lessening job satisfaction. This erature addressing sense of place consistently mentions
study did not support that finding (r=.117p=.149). that this phenomenon is linked with an individual’s self-
identity and sense of well-being. The investigation of these
Question #5 aspects of sense of place depends on finding a suitable def-
Did this study support findings reported in the literature inition for the phenomenon.
that demonstrate employee motivation and job satisfac-
tion are positively correlated to each other? It is widely Measurement of
believed by researchers that motivation and job Satisfaction Sense of Place in the Workplace
may be closely correlated. This research corroborated the This research project attempted to provide a method for
findings in the literature that motivation is positively cor- measuring sense of place in the workplace. Because thm
related with job satisfaction (r=.584p=<.OOl). is no model in the interior design or related literature OII

Volume 27 Number 1 2001 JOURNAL OF INTERIOR

DESIGN
42
 SENSE OF PLACE IN THE WORKPLACE

MILLER, ERICKSON, AND YUST

Opportunities exist for applying the sense of place index to

residential settings, landscapes, architecture and
a myriad of other environments.

which to base this measurement, interviews were con- nature of this study, none of these tests was used. Future
ducted to determine what factors might be a part of sense research should focus on coupling a test of that type with
of place in the workplace. The components of sense of the sense-of-place index to test the findings reported here
place emerging from those interviews included comfort, and to strengthen the validity of the theory that sense of
control, level of noise present, perception of privacy, and place is linked to job satisfaction.
personal objects present. Significant correlations were
found between many of those variables suggesting that a Summary
reliable method for measuring this concept has been initi-
This study had its roots in the environmental-behavior
ated. The sense-of-place index created for this study must belief that the environment affects human beings and we it.
still be tested in other settings. The extent to which our surroundings affect our behavior
Sense of place varies widely from one individual to another, may be greater than has been acknowledged and the phe-
spawned by varied life experience and culture. The sense- nomenon continues to need a significant amount of
of-place index formed for this study has the ability to research. While the empirical evidence to support the
account for individual differences on a conceptual level; belief that an individual’s sense of place could affect other
therefore, it should be possible to apply the instrument in aspects of one’s life is minimal, the findings of this study
diverse settings to assess the impact of cultural background. validate and offer insight into the relationships between
Opportunities exist for applying the sense-of-place index sense of place in the work place and employee motiva-
to residential settings, landscapes, architecture, and a tion and job satisfaction.
myriad of other environments. Further, continued investi-
Since the sense-of-place literature repeatedly mentions the
gation is needed to understand the role of age and gender relationship between the individual’s self-identity and sense
as they affect sense of place. of well-being, it is imperative that further study of the
Those responding to this survey were not in technology- composition of sense of place and its effects upon the indi-
dependent jobs, meaning that a typical computer with vidual and the surrounding environment take place. As
standard software was all that was necessary for adequate interior designers, it is our responsibility to maximize
job performance. Further studies could evaluate whether human potential in the spaces we design. This study begins
or not having adequate technology available to the to demonstrate the magnitude of that responsibility.
employee is a part of sense of place in the workplace. A simple and profound aspect of place is our
The Relationship Between reciprocal relationship with our environments:
Sense of Place in the Workspace and Job Not only do we cbange tbem, but tbey cbange
us as well. (M. Brill, in an unpublished inter-
Satisfaction and Motivation view with Herman Miller, October 8, 1992)
The results of the study indicate that there are significant
positive correlations between the sense-of-place index
developed for this research and job satisfaction and moti-
vation. Additionally, significant positive correlations were References
found between both work-related and personal objects in
the workplace and motivation and job satisfaction. Further, Ahrentzen, S. B. (1 992).Home as a workplace in the lives of women.
the ability to select one’s office furnishings and to arrange In: I. Altman, & S. low (Eds.), Place Attachment (pp. 1 13-138).
N e w ‘fork: Plenum Press.
them as desired showed a significant relationship to moti-
vation and job satisfaction whereas the ability to control Altman, I., & tow, S. (Eds.) (1992).Place Attachment. New York:
Plenum.
the level of noise and privacy in the work area did not.
Arefi, M. ( 1998). Non-place and placelessness as narratives of loss:
There are a number of standardized tests addressing job sat- Rethinking the notion of place.journal of U r h n Design, 4 (21, 179-
isfaction available to researchers. Due to the exploratory 194.

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 SENSE OF PLACE IN THE WORKPLACE

MILLER, ERICKSON, AND YUST

Bitner, M . J. ( 1992).Servicescapes: The impact of physical surround- Katzell, R. A,, & Thompson, D. E. ( 1990).Work motivation: Theory and
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Boschetti, M. A. ( 1995).Attachment to personal possessions: An inter- low (Eds.), Place Aflachment (pp. 87-1 12).New York: Plenum
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