Creating an Optimal Structure of Working Times and Workplace Environment to Maximize the Performance Level of Software Developers in Turkey.

Abstract

In this dissertation, the main aim was creating an optimal physical office environment and working time patterns to maximize the performance levels of the software developers in Turkey. The main elements of the physical office environment were identified and handled as office structure, ergonomics of the computer workstation and dominant color of the office. The working hour patterns were identified and handles as flexibility of the working hours, duration of working hours and working at weekend and nighttime. This research had the Post-positivistic paradigm as philosophical background. To reach a conclusion and overall understanding of the mentioned concepts, a detailed literature research was made and critically analyzed and research survey was conducted with the software developers in Turkey. The survey conducted had both qualitative and quantitative features. As a result of the survey, regarding optimal physical office structure to maximize the performance level of the software developers in Turkey, it was found that an office with open office area, private personal rooms and private team rooms is the performance maximizing office structure. Additionally, a conclusion drawn as a computer workstation with ergonomic chair, desk, tools for keyboard and mouse usage and multiple monitors or a monitor with large screen and high resolution maximizes the performance level of the participants. It was found that dominant color of the office environment has not a significant effect on the participants, however, for the participants who are affected by the dominant color, the office should be white or nude colors to maximize the performance of the software developers in Turkey. With respect to performance maximizing working time patterns of the software developers in Turkey, it is found that flexibility of working hours with weekly duration of 30-40 hours is the most performance maximizing pattern. Additionally, it is concluded that working at weekend to complete the flexible working hours is a performance decreasing factor. However, this research concluded that opportunity of using nighttime to complete flexible working hours is performance maximizing element for the software developers in Turkey.