I've often been told about the benefits of "group work" and "collaborative working" and thus "open plan offices" but I feel like that much energy can reduce the

I've often been told about the benefits of "group work" and "collaborative working" and thus "open plan offices" but I feel like that much energy can reduce the depth of knowledge and thought. You're replacing depth with breadth. The operating theory is that by offering a multitude of view points, you make up for the single thinker. And in areas of human dilemma, this can work. For example, consider marketing or other human-centric activities. But when the problem gets difficult, the essential superficial nature of this style of problem solving becomes apparent. This is where a single member then leaves the group, sequesters their self in solitude then emerges with the answer later.