3 ms·

Novelists don't generally get packed into open plan offices and told they need to collaborate more. I think a better question is why, of all the kinds of "flow

by dasmoth 10y ago

Novelists don't generally get packed into open plan offices and told they need to collaborate more. I think a better question is why, of all the kinds of "flow"-based knowledge work, has programming become so strongly associated with the idea that interruptability and collaboration should take precedence over sitting down and working through the problem?

SnowingXIV 10y ago
I don't think it's unique there either, sure Bay Area probably has a strong culture around that but even in other industries like finance you'll still see them embracing the open office model which causes the same problems. The conversation should be more focused on advocating for better management tactics and transparency on the work being done (e.g HR missing the mark on knowing anything about the positions they hire). Focus is needed in most (all?) professions and I'd argue so is collaboration.
Arizhel 10y ago
Also relevant I think is that novelists are a vanishingly small part of the population. Very, very few people make a living writing novels or other lengthy texts, and not that many people write novels as a hobby (or hoping to sell their book). Not many people write songs either, the other example given here. All in all, I'd say that there just aren't that many jobs these days that require a lot of individual concentration and focus. Those that do seem to have the reputation that it's needed: novelists, some college professors (when they're writing theses/dissertations/whatever), etc. But it's weird; if you asked most people if they think novelists would be more productive at home in their private office, or in a loud, bustling open-office environment, I'll bet most would answer the former. But for some reason people don't seem to think programmers need that.

3 ms·

Novelists don't generally get packed into open plan offices and told they need to collaborate more. I think a better question is why, of all the kinds of "flow

by dasmoth 10y ago

SnowingXIV 10y ago
I don't think it's unique there either, sure Bay Area probably has a strong culture around that but even in other industries like finance you'll still see them embracing the open office model which causes the same problems. The conversation should be more focused on advocating for better management tactics and transparency on the work being done (e.g HR missing the mark on knowing anything about the positions they hire). Focus is needed in most (all?) professions and I'd argue so is collaboration.
Arizhel 10y ago
Also relevant I think is that novelists are a vanishingly small part of the population. Very, very few people make a living writing novels or other lengthy texts, and not that many people write novels as a hobby (or hoping to sell their book). Not many people write songs either, the other example given here. All in all, I'd say that there just aren't that many jobs these days that require a lot of individual concentration and focus. Those that do seem to have the reputation that it's needed: novelists, some college professors (when they're writing theses/dissertations/whatever), etc. But it's weird; if you asked most people if they think novelists would be more productive at home in their private office, or in a loud, bustling open-office environment, I'll bet most would answer the former. But for some reason people don't seem to think programmers need that.