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TERESA LESIUKUNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR, CANADA
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This study measured the effect of music listening on state positive affect, work quality and time-on-task of computer information systems developers. Effects of music on work performance, in this case, software design, may be explained by increases in state positive affect. Data from 56 (male = 41, female = 15) developers were obtained from four different Canadian software companies. Data were collected in the participants' actual work environments over five weeks. Results indicated that state positive affect and quality-of-work were lowest with no music, while time-on-task was longest when music was removed. Narrative responses revealed the value of music listening for positive mood change and enhanced perception on design while working. Evidence is provided of the presence of a learning curve in the use of music for positive mood alteration. Overall, the study contributes to the development of a model that aspires to elucidate music and workplace interactions; as well, it has implications for organizational practice.
KEYWORDS: affect, computer software design, creativity, mood, music psychology, productivity, work stress
Productivity, or 'quality-of-work,' in computer information systems design may be measured by creativity of the software design. Creativity, the ability to produce work that is both novel and appropriate (Sternberg and Lubart, 1999), is adversely affected by stress and certain moods. Mild positive feelings have been found to influence positively the way cognitive material is organized, thus influencing creativity. A beneficial effect of music on task performance may be explained by increases in state positive affect (Isen, 1999; Schellenberg, 2001; Thompson et al., 2001). When music evokes a pleasant mood and an increased arousal state, participants perform better on non-musical tasks. Thus, there is support for an increase in creative problem
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solving and task performance by workers, in this case, computer systems developers. Computer software developers
The designing of computer systems is part of a larger industry known as Information Technology (IT), an industry that is competitive, continually changing, and one that constantly requires creative approaches in software design. The trend to 'downsize' or 'rightsize' is reported to lead to stress for computer developers and detrimental consequences for their design work (Glass, 1997; Wastell and Newman, 1993). Fujigaki (1993)found stress present throughout almost all software work phases of systems development,...