ABSTRACT
Understanding human behaviour starts with understanding how people notice their environment, both consciously and unconsciously. People tend to seek out places where they feel competent and confident, and where they can make sense of their environment while also being engaged with it. Groups can apportion spaces by virtue of status or seniority, and eventually spaces become interpreted in special ways, so that the group feels that the space is a necessary determinant of success. The performance of individuals in small groups is particularly dependent on their perception of comfort, both with the other people present and with their surroundings. Environmental factors such as light and heat can affect group performance, and are especially important in the more mundane settings of office and factory environments. Although the choice of settings available for small group work may well be limited, it is clearly important not to dismiss the effect that a building or room has on the way in which people interact.
