Office Workspace Environments: Understanding the Influence of Financial Workers’ Personality on Their Control of Their Physical Environment and Sense of Satisfaction

Abstract

This study explores financial professionals in Saudi Arabia's banking sector, examining how their unique personalities shape their experiences with workplace lighting, acoustics (speech privacy), and spatial layout, while also considering the degree of control they have over these conditions. Using a qualitative approach, the research delves into employees’ perceptions, behavioral responses, and preferences to build design theories aimed at enhancing job satisfaction in office environments. Guided by a constructivist theoretical framework and employing constructivist grounded theory for data analysis, the study used semi-structured interviews as primary data collection methods and photo elicitation as a supportive method. Findings reveal that employees’ interactions with lighting, speech privacy, and spatial layout vary based on personality traits, leading to actionable insights for workplace design. Three theories emerged from these insights, offering guidance for both design practices and future research. This research was conducted across three different banks in two major regions of Saudi Arabia, with implications suggesting future studies could explore the role of Saudi culture in shaping diverse personality experiences in mixed-gender office environments.