Dynasound, Inc., pinpoints the financial impact of increased privacy on productivity based on a financial model developed by B. Alan Whitson, a facility management consultant, and The Corporate Realty, Design & Management Institute. The return on investment (ROI) model shows a 500% return on the investment of reducing noise and interruptions.
Financial impact of increased Privacy on Productivity
| Total productivity hours lost yearly due to interruptions | 200 |
| Annual percentage of lost productivity | 10.42% |
| Annual white-collar employee costs | $53,742 |
| Cost of lost productivity | $5,600 |
| Lost productivity from conversational distractions | $2,670 |
| Recapture of lost productivity | $1,280 |
| Investment to increase speech privacy | $256 |
| Return on Investment (ROI) | 500% |
Sound Solutions, a study by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) revealed that 71% of workers consider noise to be the greatest impediment to productivity. Some studies show that it can take up to 45 minutes to regain concentration after an interruption. Eliminating environmental factors that reduce worker productivity is often the easiest and most cost-effective way to increase worker productivity.
The financial model uses a 10-minute example from the book, Peopleware, Productivity, Projects and Teams by DeMarco and Lister. Additional references for this financial model are The US Department of Labor Statistics, BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association), and the aforementioned study by ASID, Armstrong, Dynasound, Milliken, and Steelcase.
Dynasound manufactures a comprehensive line of sound masking products and offers computer modeling of workstation-to-workstation speech privacy. Dynasound product applications include devices for ceiling plenums, windows, walls, doors, access floor cavities, HVAC ducts, pipes, and pendant (in space) mounting.
For more information, contact Dynasound.
