Abstract:
The physical work environment may be one of the many elements influencing organizational
performance. It is essential to make sure that human assets, the most important asset of organizations,
are happy and satisfied with their work environment. This study is therefore being conducted to
investigate how the physical work environment affects job performance in the public sectors in Jimma
Oromia, Ethiopia. To achieve this purpose, both descriptive and explanatory research designs were used
in order to identify the physical work environment that affects organizational performance. Mixed
approach was used for answering research questions. 150 employees were selected by using stratified
random sampling from eight public sectors in Jimma. In the process of answering the basic questions,
structured questionnaire that include demographic profiles, the working environment and performance of
employees, was designed in open-ended, closed ended and likert scales. In addition, semi-structured
interviews were conducted with top officials of the public sectors and observation of each sectors were
included in the study. Descriptive statistics involved the use of frequencies and mean. Inferential statistics
were used to observe the variation in the performance of employees among the different levels of each of
the explanatory variables with the aid of SPSS. Multiple Regression Model is used to test the hypotheses
stated in this study regarding the performance of employees in relation to each of the independent
variables of the study. The R2 result shows that there is a significant strong and linear relationship
between the dependent variable employee’s performance and the independent variables. Accordingly,
result of the study indicates that inconvenient lighting, ventilation, sound or noise, landscape or space
office and temperature has the most effect on job performance. The findings further indicate that, most
respondents feel they are not satisfied with their indoor physical work environment. Even if they believe
that their indoor physical work environment of the sector they work in has effect on their job
performance, the overall finding of the self-rating implies that employees feel that they have good
performance. So, if the physical environment of their work place is improved they could perform better.
The study also attempted to forward some possible recommendations. These among others include: public
sectors should Create roomy and well-organized work space for the employees, make the working
environment better; re-design the space to facilitate more comfortable and efficient work environments,
use sound and visual barriers, keep workplace furniture and work surfaces away from line of sight
distractions and also it is better if the government should pull offices together to solve infrastructural
problem.
