Scribd
Upload
25 views

Business Notes 2

Ergonomics is concerned with designing work environments to suit people rather than forcing people to adapt. It focuses on arranging offices, workstations, equipment, and systems to create safe, comfortable workplaces that allow productivity without health risks. Ergonomics considers the office layout, lighting, air quality, furniture, and computer setups. The advantages of ergonomic design include safety, productivity, interaction, quality of life, stress reduction, and ability to work longer. However, ergonomic changes are costly and take time and research to implement properly. There are two main types of office layouts - enclosed private offices best for managers needing privacy, and open-plan offices best for lower-level staff where supervision is easier.

Uploaded by

Throlin Thundershield
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
25 views

Business Notes 2

Ergonomics is concerned with designing work environments to suit people rather than forcing people to adapt. It focuses on arranging offices, workstations, equipment, and systems to create safe, comfortable workplaces that allow productivity without health risks. Ergonomics considers the office layout, lighting, air quality, furniture, and computer setups. The advantages of ergonomic design include safety, productivity, interaction, quality of life, stress reduction, and ability to work longer. However, ergonomic changes are costly and take time and research to implement properly. There are two main types of office layouts - enclosed private offices best for managers needing privacy, and open-plan offices best for lower-level staff where supervision is easier.

Uploaded by

Throlin Thundershield
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Ergonomics

Ergonomics can be defined as the changing of the environment to suit people rather than people
adapting to the environment. It is concerned with designing and arranging the work environment –
offices, workstations, equipment, and systems –to create a safe and comfortable place for those
who use them so that they can be productive without being at risk concerning health and safety.
Ergonomics includes the design of the office layout, the lighting and air conditioning, the design of the
furniture, computer setup, adjustments of chairs, and ensuring that the quality of air circulating in
the office is suitable.
Advantages of Ergonomics
The environment is made safe and comfortable.
Productivity is maximized.
There is more interaction with the environment.
Quality of life is improved.
Stress levels are reduced.
People can work comfortably for a longer period.
People tend to be healthier.
 
Disadvantages of Ergonomics
The working environment has to be always changing.
It is costly to change the design of the environment to suit people’s needs.
The study of ergonomics takes time and money needed to obtain scientific information to be used to
improve working conditions.
Types of Office Layouts
Office layouts
This term is used for the physical setting of an office the place where the office furniture and office
equipment are arranged for people to work. There are two types of office layouts.
Enclosed or private or cellular office
Open-plan office
Enclosed or private or cellular office
This is the traditional office with a professional environment in a room with a workstation for one or a
few persons who share a room. Usually, there is a nameplate on the outside of the door indicating
the job title/or name of the officer (s) using the room. This type of office is best suited for
managers, Principal Vice-principal Managing Directors, etc.

Open-plan office
This is a very large room with or without high or low sectional dividers. Workstations are placed in
groups or at different angles in non-uniform groups for the office staff of various departments who
work together in sections according to the duties they perform. This type of layout is best suited for
low-level staff members.

Advantages of an enclosed or private or cellular office


 It is suitable for top-level officials because of the privacy it provides.
 Privacy creates an atmosphere for greater productivity because of no disturbances and
distractions.
 It provides a better work environment, especially for confidential matters.
 Visitors are a cause of distractions to others.
 It provides a more secure place for hardware and software.

Disadvantages of an enclosed or private or cellular office


 It is not always possible to supervise staff which may lead to lower productivity.
 It costs more than a planned office in terms of materials and floor space per person.
 The overall expenses-lighting and air condition conditioning area of an open-plan office.
 It provides little flexibility in arrangement the of office furniture.
 In case of a personal emergency, staff may be at risk-help may not be immediately
forthcoming.

Advantages of an open-plan office


 It can accommodate a greater number of staff.
 Supervision is easier because of the absence of dividing walls.
 It provides more flexibility for the arrangement of workstations and equipment.
 The overall overhead expenses-lighting and air conditioning- are relatively cheaper when
compared to an enclosed office.
 The movement of documents from one section to another is easier and faster.
 It encourages interaction of personnel and sharing of information among them.

Disadvantages of an open-plan office


 It is not suitable for the discussion of confidential matters.
 If a member of staff has to be away from the office, he/she may have to secure documents in a
lockable drawer rather than simply locking the door, as can be done in an enclosed office.
 Gossip and grapevine communication develop easily.
 The level of noise from one section may bother staff members in another section.
 Overcrowding can occur if workstations are placed close together.
 It creates an impersonal atmosphere.

You might also like