Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2016 The ffecE t of Workspace Layout on Individual Perceptions of Creativity Across Generational Cohorts Leslie Estelle Barrett Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Advertising and Promotion Management Commons, Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Commons, Marketing Commons, and the Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Leslie Barrett has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. John Schmidt, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty Dr. Catherine Kwantes, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty Dr. Thomas Edman, University Reviewer, Psychology Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2016 The Effect of Workspace Layout on Individual Perceptions of Creativity Across Generational Cohorts by Leslie E. Barrett MA, University of Phoenix, 2003 BS, Montclair State University, 1980 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Walden University November 2016 Abstract Organizations strategically design the physical work environment to enhance employees’ creativity. Understanding the impact of workspace layout on individual perceptions of creativity across generational cohorts can be vital to sustaining organizational competitiveness. Researchers have theorized that workspace layout affects employees’ perceptions of creativity; however, few studies have looked at the effect of generational cohort on this relationship. A quantitative study was conducted to examine the effect of workspace layout on individual perceptions of creativity across generational cohorts. A sample of 162 participants completed an online demographics questionnaire as well as aKEYS, a modified version of the KEYS to Creativity and Innovation instrument. An ANOVA was used to determine whether generational cohort and workspace layouts affected the participants’ individual perceptions of creativity. Results did not support the theory that workspace layout and generational cohort affected individual perceptions of creativity. However, these nonsignificant results can be used strategically by organizations to design physical workspaces that foster individual perceptions of creativity in order to attract and retain a diverse workforce by accommodating employees equally rather than on generational cohort membership. Social change implications are that the results can provide organizations with an understanding of ways in which they can effectively treat and meet the needs of the workforce as a whole, rather than develop strategies based on generational cohort membership. The Effect of Workspace Layout on Individual Perceptions of Creativity Across Generational Cohorts by Leslie E. Barrett MA, University of Phoenix, 2003 BS, Montclair State University, 1980 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Walden University November 2016 Dedication For Elaine and Leonidas Barrett. Acknowledgments I would like to thank my dissertation committee chair, Dr. John Schmidt; my committee member, Dr. Catherine Kwantes; and my university research reviewer, Dr. Thomas Edman, for their guidance, support, and expertise through this incredible journey. Lastly, and most importantly, I would like to thank my family and friends for their continued encouragement. Table of Contents List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... v List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Background ................................................................................................................... 3 Creativity................................................................................................................. 4 Age and Generational Cohorts ................................................................................ 5 Workspace............................................................................................................... 7 Problem Statement ........................................................................................................ 9 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................... 10 Research Questions ..................................................................................................... 11 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................... 12 Nature of the Study ..................................................................................................... 13 Definitions of Terms ................................................................................................... 14 Assumptions ................................................................................................................ 15 Scope and Delimitations ............................................................................................. 16 Limitations .................................................................................................................. 16 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................ 17 Summary and Transition ............................................................................................. 17 Chapter 2: Literature Review ............................................................................................ 20 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 20 i Literature Search Strategy........................................................................................... 22 Defined, Traditional and Open, Nontraditional Workspaces ...................................... 23 Lewin’s Field Theory ............................................................................................ 23 Office Work Environment .................................................................................... 24 Work Environment and Creativity ........................................................................ 29 Age-Related Changes............................................................................................ 31 Generational Theory ............................................................................................. 35 Cohort Analysis Theory ........................................................................................ 36 Generational Cohort Membership......................................................................... 37 Generational Cohort Characteristics ..................................................................... 38 Generational Cohort Preferences .......................................................................... 40 Generational Cohort Research .............................................................................. 42 Creativity..................................................................................................................... 45 Creativity Theory .................................................................................................. 46 Creativity Research ............................................................................................... 47 Summary and Transition ............................................................................................. 50 Chapter 3: Research Method ............................................................................................. 53 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 53 Research Design and Rationale .................................................................................. 53 Target Population and Sample .................................................................................... 53 Survey Instruments ..................................................................................................... 54 Demographics Questionnaire ................................................................................ 55 ii KEYS to Creativity and Innovation ...................................................................... 55 Validity and Reliability ........................................................................................