It's an interesting premise, but I think I disagree with it. I work at a ~300 person web development/engineering company, in exactly the kind of low-walled "bul

It's an interesting premise, but I think I disagree with it. I work at a ~300 person web development/engineering company, in exactly the kind of low-walled "bullpen" situation you describe - a large room with ~60 developers, all of whom can be seen if you stand up almost anywhere in the room. Being a bit of an introvert myself, I was a bit taken aback at first. But after nearly a year there, I think it's been a good influence on my working habits - introverts tend to be the kind of people who send e-mails to their coworkers to explain a problem or question, even if they sit close by, rather than talking to them directly. However, the open layout encourages direct collaboration and communication. With just a glance, I can see that the lead developer is at his desk and not speaking with anyone, which means I'm not likely to interrupt him in the middle of something important if I drop by.