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Showing 8 results for Environment
The quality of Kansei engineering design: A case study of a branch of Bank Maskan in Sari
Mahsa Bagheri, Abasali Shahrudi,
Volume 3, Issue 2 (9-2015)
Abstract

Introduction: Creating an appropriate and efficient workplace environment is a fundamental part of businesses in the modern world. The proper design of interior spaces and exterior facades in workplaces invigorates the workforce and reduces the risk of depression for them, while also improving the quality of their work and the attraction of customers.

 Nevertheless, architects tend to design workplace environments solely based on personal taste and emotional preferences. The present study designed a branch of Bank Maskan in Sari, Iran, by using efficient scientific methods and with a focus on the quantitative and qualitative aspects of design.

Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted to design a workplace environment using the Kansei engineering method. It used the facade openings of a branch of Maskan Bank in Sari as its case study and extracted the users' preferences using the Kansei method in order to find physical patterns for designing facade openings based on scientific analysis of the data obtained. The researcher examined the dominant emotional preferences using the Kansei engineering method and had 200 individuals selected from the sample population fill out a questionnaire that was scored using Semantic Differential (SD) and based on a 7-point Likert scale. The data obtained were analyzed in SPSS-16 using a test for mean and the Pearson correlation test.

Findings: The findings of the present study confirmed the significant relationship between the quantitative (the type of openings) and qualitative (Kansei terms) characteristics of design using the Kansei engineering method and also showed that arched openings, with attributes of religiosity such as “loyal”, “trustworthy” and “moderate” (with correlation values of 0.6, 0.6 and 0.63, in respective order), and rectangular openings with vertical elongation, with attributes of economics and banking such as “stability” (with the correlation value of 0.62), have obtained the highest degree of correlation.

Conclusion: Given the positive effects of physical patterns, and as traditional arched openings imply attributes such as religiosity while rectangular openings with vertical elongation imply positive economics and banking attributes, these openings were deemed suitable for designing the facade of the examined branch of Maskan Bank in Sari.


The Effects of Job Stress on the Emersion of Employees' Organizational Citizenship Behavior in a Finance and Credit Institute in Mazandaran Province
Hossein Samadi Miarkolaei, Hamzeh Samadi Miarkolaei,
Volume 4, Issue 2 (10-2016)
Abstract

Introduction: Job stress is identified as imbalance between job needs and individual’s abilities and demands. Job stress has somatic, psychological and behavioral traumas, The main purpose of the present research was to investigate the effects of employees' job stress level on the emersion of organizational behavior amongst Mazandaran's SAMEN Finance and Credit Institute's subdivision employees.

Methods: In this correlation-descriptive study, 147 employees from SAMEN subdivisions of Mazandaran province were selected based on the census sampling method. Data were collected by using the job stress and organizational citizenship behavior standard questionnaire. Data were analyzed by the SPSS and LISREL software, and using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation and Standard Error of the Mean (SEM).

Results: In the current study, there was a significant and inverse relationship between job stress and organizational citizenship behavior (R = -0.590, and P = 0.001). The results of structural equation modeling and path analysis showed that job stress and most of its components were good predictors of organizational citizenship behavior.

Conclusions: Recent research has demonstrated that job stress may increase employees-related problems. There is a relationship between job stress and organizational citizenship behavior, and attention to job stress level as a predictor of organizational citizenship behavior in employees is an essential issue.


The Relationship Between Environmental and Demographic Factors with Productivity of Islamic Azad University of Shiraz Employees
Ahmad Baleshzar, Meymanat Tabodi, Zahra Rojhani Shirazi,
Volume 7, Issue 2 (9-2019)
Abstract

Background and Objectives: Design of work environment is one of the factors that can affect performance and efficiency of employees. Human’s productivity has different dimensions that may be affected by environmental factors and internal factors such as demographic characteristics. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the relationship between environmental and demographic factors with productivity of employees of Azad University of Shiraz.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, out of 360 (all of the employees of Islamic Azad University, Shiraz branch)186 subjects were selected as a sample through convenience sampling. The data collection tools were demographic information questionnaire, Physical Work Environment questionnaire and Hersey-Goldsmith’s productivity questionnaire. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to measure the relationship between quantitative variables with productivity separately. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between demographic and environmental variables.
Results: The results showed that there was a significant relationship between the factors of work environment design (furniture, noise, temperature, lighting and spatial arrangements). Also, there was a significant relationship between the levels of education with productivity score, so that people with a PhD level had a higher level of productivity than the participants with lower education. Also, the simultaneous relationship of demographic and environmental factors with productivity was significant for spatial arrangements.
Conclusion: The proper design of the work environment is related to employees’ productivity of Islamic Azad University of Shiraz. This can be affected by the demographic characteristics of individuals. However, the simultaneous effect of both factors with productivity showed that spatial arrangements has a considerable effects on productivity.


Explain the Model of Optimizing the Relationship between Labor and the Industrial Environment Through Architectural Criteria
Mrs Laleh Nazari, Dr Azadeh Shahcheraghi, Dr Iraj Etessam,
Volume 9, Issue 3 (12-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Job satisfaction and improving employee performance due to direct relationships with individual and environmental factors is one of the most important issues in optimizing the industrial environment. Since the main lever of decreasing or increasing productivity is human resources, one of the issues that will engage the leading managers in the coming decade is trying to increase employee productivity. Regarding the disposal of some affairs to the private sector and lack of adequate health supervision, in some cases, we witness an increase in this disorder in our country. The physical environment of the built environment affects mental health directly and indirectly, meaning that the physical environment, such as the residence and workplace, is a place for human life and some of its psychological effects are unknown.
Methods: The purpose of this research is to explain the model optimization model of labor and the industrial environment through architectural standards. This research is an applied research. In this research, the opinions were gathered through interviews. Then using grounded theory and open, axial and selective coding, the model was developed. In the following, confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the validity of the items by Lisrel software.
Results: The results showed that indices such as environmental and physical ergonomics, visual contrast of space, environmental psychology, spatial separation of space, attention to voice and color are influential.
Conclusion: Psychological comfort is an inevitable aspect of user satisfaction studies. These findings help designers, architects, planners, and facility managers to develop workplace design principles. 

The Effect of Environmental and Ergonomic Stimuli of the Work Environment on Employees’ Behavior by the Mediating Role of General Health
Mehdi Fadaei, Mahdi Homayounfar, Mansour Soufi, Amir Daneshvar,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (7-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Considering the importance of employees' behavior in service organizations and its significant impact on their success and failure, the present study investigates the environmental and ergonomic factors affecting the mental health and behavior of employees in one of the branches of Islamic Azad University.
Methods: The present study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-correlational in terms of data gathering and analysis. The statistical population of the study includes: 315 employees of Rasht Branch of Azad University, out of them 196 people were selected by random sampling method and the necessary data were collected using a questionnaire. Structural equation modeling and SMART PLS3 software were used to test the hypotheses.
Results: According to the findings, workplace layout affects on use of work equipment (0.389), use of office chair (0.252) and environmental conditions (0.538), but the effect of workplace layout on the posture of employees was not confirmed in 5 percent significance level. Also, the effect of posture (0.586), layout (0.440), work equipment (0.458), office chair (0.345) and environmental conditions (0.550) on public health and also the effect of general health (0.690) and environmental conditions (0.158) on employees’ behavior is significant. Examining the indirect relationships of the research model also shows that workplace layout affects employee behavior through the general health and environmental conditions. Workplace layout influences employees’ behavior through work equipment, office chair, environment conditions and general health.
Conclusion: The indirect effect of workplace layout on employees’ behavior through public health has the highest impact (0.304), therefore, making policies for the general health, can improve employees’ behavior.

An Investigation of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) in Workplaces, (Case Study: Engineering Organization Building of Urmia)
Solmaz Tabe Afshar, Sahar Toofan, Arash Saghafi Asl,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Undoubtfuly, people spend a significant portion of their time in workplaces. Many factors affect the health and well-being of employees. The present study aimed to identify the architectural problems of the environment by examining the symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome and ranking the parameters influenced by five physical factors (thermal comfort, noise, lighting, layout-ergonomics and decoration).
Methods: The present descriptive-analytical research was carried out in the summer of 2021. The statistical population included 52 employees of Urmia Engineering Organization Building which is based on Morgan's table and a sample size consisting 46 people was randomly selected. The required data were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) and Friedman test.
Results: Considering the average ranks, symptoms of fatigue (4.47), muscle pain (5.47), headache (5.87), high stress (6.14) and poor concentration (7.45), along with some defined parameters for each of the factors, including overcrowding and lack of speech privacy (78.12%), the noise of people's conversation (62.93%), improper workplace temperature in winter (58.59%) and summer (49.91%), inappropriate placement of uses and allocation of inadequate space for people and equipment (49.91%) played the most significant role.
Conclusion: The results indicated that the inefficient design of the environment and non-observance of ergonomic principles as a result of unprincipled renovations regardless of the nature of the work and its requirements, inappropriate placement of uses, the non-standard distribution of employees in an inflexible environment, lack of speech privacy and crowding were identified as the most important causes of the symptoms.

Comparative Study of Physical, Environmental and Psychosocial Risk Factors in Workers in the Production and Assembly of Auto Parts in Qom with a Multi-Factor Approach
Zahrasadat Javadi Hoseini, Hamidreza Mokhtarinia, Mohsen Vahedi,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are multifactorial conditions that result in time loss, disability, and increased economical costs. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the role of the physical, environmental and psychosocial factors in the development of musculoskeletal disorders in workers in the production and assembly of auto parts in Qom city in 2021.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 211 participants through an inconvenience sampling method entered the study. The demographic characteristics of participants and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders were assessed by a self-report questionnaire and the Extended Nordic questionnaire, respectively. The mental workload was evaluated by the NASA-TLX index and the physical, environmental and psychosocial risk factors were evaluated by the Structured Multidisciplinary Work Evaluation Tool (SMET). The binary logistic regression method was used to show the role of the different risk factors in the development of MSDs.
Results: Participants had an average age of 33.9 years (SD = 6.9). The lifetime prevalence of MSDs was obtained at about 77.72% in at least one area of the body. The neck, back, and shoulder areas were the most common regions. Gender, smoking history, surgery history, age, past surgery history, and sports history were most effective in the development of MSDs. In addition, subscales of mental workload play a role in causing pain in the shoulders, upper back, back and knees. SMET subscales play an effective role in the neck (OR = 1.396), upper back (OR = 1.663), hip, and knee, wrist/hand, and ankle/foot pain.
Conclusion: According to the role of various factors in developing disorders, the physical, psychosocial, and environmental factors should be considered simultaneously in planning preventive programs and ergonomics interventions.

The application of participatory ergonomics principles as a strategy for sustainable environmental management
Farahnaz Dastranj, Phd Ali Mohammadi, Hassan Sadeghi Naeini, Hanieh Nikoomaram, Reza Azizinezhad,
Volume 13, Issue 1 (5-2025)
Abstract

Background and Objectives: Participatory ergonomics, with its focus on the active involvement of stakeholders in designing and improving work systems, can be proposed as a key strategy for sustainable environmental management. This study aims to explore the mechanisms of integrating ergonomic principles and employee participation to elucidate how environmental sustainability can be achieved in workplace settings.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in an Iranian automotive industry. The participatory ergonomics program involved a 14-member expert team through weekly sessions consisting of two hours of theoretical training and one hour of practical application over a three-month period. The primary objectives of the program encompassed comprehensive training on ergonomics checkpoints established by the International Labour Organization (ILO), integration of ergonomic principles with environmental sustainability considerations, and development of practical competencies to implement acquired knowledge in actual workplace environments.
Results: Following the completion of the participatory ergonomics program and a thorough assessment of workplace issues, the ergonomics team successfully developed fifty practical recommendations, 20% of which addressed environmental concerns. Through six months of sustained collaboration between workers and management support, ten of the proposed recommendations were implemented.
Conclusion: The application of participatory ergonomics principles, with its emphasis on stakeholder engagement in work system design, can serve as a pivotal strategy for sustainable environmental management. This approach not only enhances the physical and psychological well-being of employees but also establishes an inseparable connection between technology, humans, and the environment through reducing occupational stress and natural resource consumption. Undoubtedly, interdisciplinary research in ergonomics and environmental sustainability can play a strategic role in achieving balanced development for future generations.
 


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