Many an organization has wasted significant money by investing in inappropri-
ate or poorly designed workstation furniture. Glossy brochures sell the idea that
the furniture will meet every possible need that an employer might have. Office
furniture showrooms present a pristine environment filled with shiny new desks and
attractive chairs. In both cases, the superficial qualities of the equipment can have an
immediate impact on decision making. Unfortunately, decisions made on the basis
of a few minutes of viewing or testing will not provide a clear indication of how
successful that equipment might be once used in a real work environment. Getting
a true appreciation of the likely success of any piece of equipment—whether a desk,
chair, footrest, document holder, or anything else—is possible only after the equip-
ment has been used during the performance of normal work in the real environment.
This illustrates the importance of having equipment on trial before committing to
purchasing it, particularly if large numbers are involved.