Specification and empirical exploration of a usability concept in the workplace

Windlinger Inversini, Lukas; Airo, Kaisa; Nenonen, Suvi

doi:10.1108/F-01-2015-0003

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Specification and empirical exploration of a usability concept in the workplace
Authors:	Windlinger Inversini, Lukas Airo, Kaisa Nenonen, Suvi
DOI:	10.1108/F-01-2015-0003
Published in:	Facilities
Volume(Issue):	2016
Issue:	11/12
Page(s):	649
Pages to:	661
Issue Date:	2016
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Emerald
ISSN:	0263-2772
Language:	English
Subjects:	Usability; Work performance; Office satisfaction; Workplace management
Subject (DDC):	331: Labor economics
Abstract:	Purpose: Building on fundamental work on usability of workplaces this paper extends the perspective of usability as an approach in delivering workplace solutions. In order to explore the content and implications of usability, the concept is differentiated into two sub-concepts: usefulness and user-friendliness. Design/methodology/approach: The theoretical rationale for the proposed conceptual specification is presented and explored using data from two independent research projects, a qualitative interview study in an office relocation project in Finland and a quantitative survey study of 1420 office users of 43 buildings in Switzerland. The goal of the empirical research is to capture the elements of user experience connected to usability using the distinction between usefulness and user-friendliness. Findings: The results from both studies show that perceived support of work activities by workspaces in relation to work tasks is the main element of usefulness. User-friendliness incorporates comfort and control as the two most important aspects. Correlations between usefulness and user-friendliness and outcomes of usable workspace design are low for self-assessed performance, moderate for job satisfaction, and high for work area satisfaction. Practical implications: Providing useful workplaces supports users’ job performance while designing for user-friendliness is correlated with user satisfaction. Originality/value: The differentiation of usefulness and user-friendliness of office environments provides a new way to describe user experience. The integration of qualitative and quantitative research strategies strengthens the research evidence.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/6350
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	Life Sciences and Facility Management
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Facility Management (IFM)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Life Sciences und Facility Management

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Windlinger Inversini, L., Airo, K., & Nenonen, S. (2016). Specification and empirical exploration of a usability concept in the workplace. Facilities, 2016(11/12), 649–661. https://doi.org/10.1108/F-01-2015-0003

Windlinger Inversini, L., Airo, K. and Nenonen, S. (2016) ‘Specification and empirical exploration of a usability concept in the workplace’, Facilities, 2016(11/12), pp. 649–661. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/F-01-2015-0003.

L. Windlinger Inversini, K. Airo, and S. Nenonen, “Specification and empirical exploration of a usability concept in the workplace,” Facilities, vol. 2016, no. 11/12, pp. 649–661, 2016, doi: 10.1108/F-01-2015-0003.

WINDLINGER INVERSINI, Lukas, Kaisa AIRO und Suvi NENONEN, 2016. Specification and empirical exploration of a usability concept in the workplace. Facilities. 2016. Bd. 2016, Nr. 11/12, S. 649–661. DOI 10.1108/F-01-2015-0003

Windlinger Inversini, Lukas, Kaisa Airo, and Suvi Nenonen. 2016. “Specification and Empirical Exploration of a Usability Concept in the Workplace.” Facilities 2016 (11/12): 649–61. https://doi.org/10.1108/F-01-2015-0003.

Windlinger Inversini, Lukas, et al. “Specification and Empirical Exploration of a Usability Concept in the Workplace.” Facilities, vol. 2016, no. 11/12, 2016, pp. 649–61, https://doi.org/10.1108/F-01-2015-0003.