EFFECT OF PHYSICAL WORKING ENVIRONMENT ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIA
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The growing concern of modern firms lies in the attainment of Organizational performance. Organisational performances constitute the actual results achieved by a firm when compared to its original aims and objectives. Most firms focus their organizational performance objective on specific results as product performance, financial performance and shareholder returns. Richard et al. (2009) .However the attainment of this specific aims and objective is critically influenced by the physical working environment in which the organizational personnel operates or carry out their daily functions. Consequently in view of the rapid development in the business environment which has led to modernization, and technological advancement in all sphere of economic and social activities, it is no longer visible to achieve organizational performance without giving consideration to the environment in which the employees operate in executing the fundamental duties of the organisation.Therefore the performance of the worker are affected by the working environment. This implies that good working physical environment facilitate the attainment of high employee productivity and thereby resulting in high organizational performance. The physical environment consists of tangible and intangible factors existing in the physical location where the worker operates to execute the fundamental duties of the organization. This include the tangible workplace offices or location, working conditions as good ventilation, airconditioning,safety and security, good office layout, technological facility as internet system, telephone, office equipment’s , workplace policies and procedures, design and construction of the workplace etc.
A good number of studies involving employee physical work environment indicates that there is a relationship between physical work environment and employee job satisfaction and productivity .This implies that physical work environment contribute positively to workers performance and organizational productivity such work conditions as lighting, ventilation rates, access to natural light and acoustic environment (Humphries, 2005; Veitch, Charles, Newsham, Marquardt & Geerts, 2004; Karasek & Theorell, 1990). The research therefore seeks to appraise the effect of physical work place environment on organizational performance.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The advancement of technology and economic development has brought rapid changes in the physical work environment as well as workers attitude to work and organsational productivity. The growing concern of modern firms lies in the attainment of Organizational performance. Organisational performance constitutes the actual results achieved by a firm when compared to its original aims and objectives. Most firms focus their organizational performance objective on specific results as product performance, financial performance and shareholder returns. Richard et al. (2009) .However the attainment of this specific aims and objective is critically influenced by the physical working environment in which the organizational personnel operates or carry out their daily functions. Consequently in view of the rapid development in the business environment which has led to modernisation,and technological advancement in all sphere of economic and social activities, it is no longer visible to achieve organizational performance without giving consideration to the environment in which the employees operate in executing the fundamental duties of the organisation.Therefore the performance of the worker are affected by the working environment. This implies that good working physical environment facilitate the attainment of high employee productivity and thereby resulting in high organizational performance.
The inability of many firms to take this into consideration has greatly affected workers attitude, welfare and overall productivity. The physical work environment constitutes the environment in which the worker exists to execute the fundamental duties of the organization. (Chapins, 1995) The physical environment consists of tangible and intangible factors existing in the physical location where the worker operates to execute the fundamental duties of the organization. This include the tangible workplace offices or location, working conditions as good ventilation, airconditioning,safety and security, good office layout, technological facility as internet system, telephone, office equipment’s , workplace policies and procedures, design and construction of the workplace etc. A good number of studies involving employee physical work environment indicates that there is a relationship between physical work environment and employee job satisfaction and productivity .This implies that physical work environment contribute positively to workers performance and organizational productivity such work conditions as lighting, ventilation rates, access to natural light and acoustic environment (Humphries, 2005; Veitch, Charles, Newsham, Marquardt & Geerts, 2004; Karasek & Theorell, 1990).
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
To determine the effect of physical work environment on organizational performance in Nigeria
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
What is the meaning of physical work environment and organizational performance?
What is the effect of physical working environment on organizational performance in Nigeria?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study shall elucidate on the nature of physical work environment and its effect on organizational performance.
1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
Ho The effect of the physical work environment on organizational performance is low
Hi The effect of the physical work environment on organizational performance is high
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study focuses on the appraisal of the effect of the physical working environment on organizational performance in Nigeria.
1.8 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The study was confronted by some constraint as logistic and geographical factor.
1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
PHYSICAL WORK ENVIRONMENT DEFINED
The physical environment consists of tangible and intangible factors existing in the physical location where the worker operates to execute the fundamental duties of the organization. This include the tangible workplace offices or location, working conditions as good ventilation, airconditioning,safety and security, good office layout, technological facility as internet system, telephone, office equipment’s , workplace policies and procedures, design and construction of the workplace etc.
ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE DEFINED
Organizational performances constitute the actual results achieved by a firm when compared to its original aims and objectives. Most firms focus their organizational performance objective on specific results as product performance, financial performance and shareholder returns. Richard et al. (2009)
