When you hear the word “ergonomics,” what comes to mind? For most, it’s images of comfortable office chairs, split keyboards, or maybe a stand-up desk. This is a part of the story, but it’s only one piece of a much larger puzzle. That piece is called physical ergonomics. But what happens when you have the perfect chair and desk, yet your team is still burned out, processes are inefficient, and communication is constantly breaking down?
This is where organizational ergonomics comes in.
Organizational ergonomics (sometimes called macroergonomics) is about improving the entire structure of your company. It looks at how your work systems, company policies, and daily processes are designed. So, instead of focusing on how one person uses one piece of equipment, it zooms out to see how the whole organization works together as a system.
Think of it like the blueprint for how work actually gets done. A good blueprint makes sure all the parts of a house fit together perfectly. In the same way, strong organizational ergonomics ensures your business processes support your team’s well-being and help them perform at their best.
The Three Types of Ergonomics
To truly grasp organizational ergonomics, it helps to see where it fits within its scientific discipline. The International Ergonomics Association (IEA) divides ergonomics into three interconnected domains.
- Physical Ergonomics This is the domain most people are familiar with. It deals with the human body’s response to physical demands. The goal is to design workplaces, equipment, and tasks that reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries and strain. Topics here include posture, repetitive movements, and the layout of a physical workspace.
- Cognitive Ergonomics This area focuses on mental processes. It involves things like perception, memory, reasoning, and motor response as they affect interactions between humans and other elements of a system. Good cognitive ergonomics results in systems that are intuitive to use, reduce mental workload, and minimize the chance of human error. User experience (UX) design for software is a perfect example.
- Organizational Ergonomics This domain, also known as macroergonomics, takes the widest view. It is concerned with the optimization of sociotechnical systems, which includes their organizational structures, policies, and processes. It aims to create a work environment that supports seamless collaboration, smooth workflows, and employee well-being on a large scale.
While each domain is distinct, they heavily influence one another. A poorly designed work process (organizational) can lead to mental overload (cognitive) and physical stress (physical).
How Organizational Ergonomics Impact People
The way a company is structured has a huge impact on its employees. Research shows that things like communication, teamwork, and how jobs are designed are directly tied to an employee’s performance and how connected they feel to their work. When these parts of the organization are poorly designed, problems start to pop up.
For example, when communication channels are confusing, people make mistakes. If work schedules are too rigid and don’t allow for real-life demands, people burn out. When the company culture rewards long hours instead of effective work, it creates stress and exhaustion across the board. These aren’t issues that a new office chair can fix; they are deep-seated problems that require looking at the organization itself.
The goal of good organizational ergonomics is to:
- Improve communication between different teams and individuals.
- Enhance teamwork and collaboration on projects.
- Balance workloads to keep people from feeling stressed and burned out.
- Design smarter work schedules that support a healthy work-life balance.
- Foster a positive culture where people feel motivated and engaged.
- Manage big changes effectively, like introducing new technology or ways of working.
When you get these structures right, you’re not just putting out fires. You are actively building a more positive and productive environment where people feel supported and valued. That naturally leads to better work and happier employees.
Is Your Organization Set Up for Success?
Take a moment to think about your own workplace. How does work actually get done? Are your communication and workflows smooth, or do your teams constantly run into roadblocks and inefficiencies? Do your company policies truly support your employees’ well-being?
How you answer these questions can tell you a lot about the state of your organizational ergonomics.
For many businesses, it’s tough to see these deep-seated issues when you’re on the inside looking out. That’s where a professional evaluation can provide much-needed clarity. Understanding exactly where your company stands today is the crucial first step toward building a workplace that is more efficient, healthier, and simply a better place to work.
Alt text: A team of professionals works together on a large whiteboard, mapping out a workflow to improve their organizational structure.
Caption: Evaluating your company’s internal processes is the first step toward meaningful improvement.
Improve Your Organizational Ergonomics with Ergo Global
Improving your organizational ergonomics means looking at the big picture to create a smarter, more productive environment. When your systems and culture support your people, you unlock your company’s full potential.
At Ergo Global, we make this process straightforward. We can empower your staff with practical Ergonomics Training or provide expert Ergonomics Assessments to identify clear opportunities for improvement.
Ready to build a more resilient and engaged workforce?
Contact Ergo Global today to learn how our tailored solutions can help.
