Shining a Light on Productivity: How Internal and External Factors Shape Performance

<p dir="ltr"><i>Productivity is a key factor in both business success and employee well-being, making it crucial to understand when designing effective work environments. The ability to evaluate and prioritise the right factors is key to creating spaces that enhance focus, efficiency, and overall job satisfaction.</i></p><p dir="ltr"><i>This research paper explores the influence of external environmental factors, such as natural light, glare and sustainability. In comparison to internal comfort factors, such as temperature, money and social interaction on workplace productivity. It examines the effectiveness of these elements in enhancing perceptive work performance and addresses existing research gaps in the field. Additionally, the study considers the role of natural light in sustainable design, analysing its interaction with temperature regulation, solar gain, and the integration of smart technologies. The research is particularly focused on desk-based work environments, architectural settings, and university students, investigating the differences in productivity between office and home-based workspaces.</i></p><p dir="ltr"><i>A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods is used with long and short form questions conducted mostly within the architecture and design sector. This approach will assess how exposure to natural light affects employee productivity compared to other factors and whether individual preferences aligns with research literature. Megan R. Nollman (2013), highlights the impact of light manipulation on indoor environmental quality. There remains a gap in understanding how these factors interact with other workplace elements, such as temperature and social dynamics, to influence overall performance.</i></p><p dir="ltr"><i>The objective of this study is to determine the key influential factors in perceived productivity and whether personal opinions align with data on light manipulation and thermal comfort. While adopting a pragmatic research approach, real-world applications of these findings will be analysed, alongside post-positivist insights, acknowledging the variability of individual experiences. The study also evaluates the trade-offs between maximising natural light for well-being and managing energy efficiency in workplace design.</i></p><p dir="ltr"><i>This research is significant for shaping future workplace environments by identifying the most valuable comfort factors for employees and informing sustainable building practices. The findings aim to guide policy decisions in office and home workspace design, ensuring optimal productivity while maintaining environmental responsibility.</i></p>