Handbook of Human Performance Technology: Principles, Practices, and Potential, Third Edition

Chapter 28. Workplace Design

Karen L. Medsker

Human performance technologists use models such as Gilbert's Behavior Engineering Model (Gilbert, 1978, 1982) to diagnose causes of performance gaps and to identify categories of interventions that may improve performance. Gilbert identified factors associated with the performer—skills and knowledge, capacity, and motivation—and factors found in the environment— data or information, tools and setting, and incentives. This chapter discusses the tools and setting category of environmental factors, including physical and psychological elements that affect human performance in the workplace. Although the typical performance technologist is not usually an expert in furniture design, acoustics, or space planning, ...