Events

Mr. Matt Cummins
Ph.D Candidate in Organizational Behavior
Stanford Graduate School of Business

Recent research has examined spatial design as an aspect of organizational design. I propose that the spatial design of workplaces affects perceptions of social cohesion. Such perceptions are consequential, with implications for community in the workplace, the retention of workers, and group creativity. The interconnection of observable spaces determines opportunities to observe the social interactions of nearby colleagues. I theorize that this information materially affects the observer’s perception of social cohesion. In a large-scale study of a financial technology firm, I find that the degree of interconnection of observable spaces is positively associated with perceived social cohesion. I then present a quasi-experimental study set in a university administrative unit, finding a positive causal effect of change in the degree of interconnection of nearby spaces on change in perceived social cohesion. With these findings, I suggest that social psychological outcomes are within the scope of organizational design, beyond structuring patterns of interaction or information flows. Furthermore, I highlight a previously unexamined tension between designing shared workplaces to promote perceptions of social cohesion, versus designing these to promote privacy. I discuss implications of my findings for the management of community, retention, and group creativity.