Influence of employees' perceptions of colour preferences on productivity in Malaysian office buildings

In the Malaysian context, the designers of many office buildings are largely unaware of the effect of colour in the working environment. The choice of colours is made without further study of the problems that might arise from unsuitable colour choices. Employers should therefore be advised to improve the surroundings of the office in order to meet the needs and comfort of the employees. This study was conducted to enhance the awareness of both the building users and the facility managers on the importance of colour schemes in productivity. Three case study buildings were chosen, consisting of three office buildings in the capital city of Malaysia. Questionnaires were distributed in each case study and feedback from the respondents was gathered. This data was then analyzed and the findings are presented. In Malaysia nowadays, there is a lack of awareness about the preference of colour schemes for office buildings. Many are unaware of the effect of the colour scheme on the employees' productivity. It is anticipated that this study will enhance the awareness and encourage the correlation between the working environment and colour matters amongst building users and management. Keywords: Awareness, Colour scheme, Productivity and Office buildings
1. Introduction Colour is a visual phenomenon triggered by the response to the stimulation of light. It pervades every aspect of our lives, embellishes the ordinary and gives beauty and [...]