The impact of psychological needs on office design

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to summarise the main psychological theories that have implications for the design and management of successful workplaces. This will support real estate professionals in advising occupiers on how to enhance the quality of their workplaces to improve the performance of its occupants. Design/methodology/approach The paper summarises relevant psychological research and offers guidance based on the literature review. Findings In general, current trends in building design and selection do not fully consider psychological factors. Whilst new buildings may be space efficient they are unlikely to be as effective as those buildings that do account for basic individual and organisational needs. Originality/value This paper provides a review of the psychological theories in the context of office design. A fuller understanding of such theories will improve the quality of workplaces.