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There seems to be some data suggesting that open offices do promote collaboration. Specifically, higher 'contact' rates with other people in the company tends t

There seems to be some data suggesting that open offices do promote collaboration. Specifically, higher 'contact' rates with other people in the company tends to produce lots of useful informal communication. Of course, what's missing from that result is all the data saying that open offices also lower productivity, increase distraction frequency, raise stress, and increase sick leave. Notably, the good results are indirect benefits of open offices, while the downsides are mostly direct. There have been efforts to derive those benefits without actually using open plans - for instance by adopting radial building designs and centralizing shared spaces (conference rooms, cafeterias, etc). That lets you increase 'hallway collaboration' without actually bothering people while they try to work.

solatic 9y ago
> There seems to be some data suggesting that open offices do promote collaboration. Specifically, higher 'contact' rates with other people in the company tends to produce lots of useful informal communication. Verbal communication is unrecorded communication. Unrecorded communication is communication which must be repeated to any stakeholder who wasn't present. Repetition is inefficient. Of course, sometimes that's unavoidable. Employees aren't perfect readers and writers - some people have difficulty expressing themselves in prose, others don't have the ability to quickly parse dozens of pages of written communication to pull out the snippets which are personally relevant, and practically speaking they can't all be replaced overnight. Sometimes, emotional appeals need to be privately, unrecorded. But the long-term benefits of prefer-written communication are so incredibly high. New employees on-board faster and less disruptively. Employees can work from home, commute less, and procure higher-quality housing in less-expensive areas as a result, making them happier with a higher discretionary income.

solatic 9y ago

> There seems to be some data suggesting that open offices do promote collaboration. Specifically, higher 'contact' rates with other people in the company tends to produce lots of useful informal communication. Verbal communication is unrecorded communication. Unrecorded communication is communication which must be repeated to any stakeholder who wasn't present. Repetition is inefficient. Of course, sometimes that's unavoidable. Employees aren't perfect readers and writers - some people have difficulty expressing themselves in prose, others don't have the ability to quickly parse dozens of pages of written communication to pull out the snippets which are personally relevant, and practically speaking they can't all be replaced overnight. Sometimes, emotional appeals need to be privately, unrecorded. But the long-term benefits of prefer-written communication are so incredibly high. New employees on-board faster and less disruptively. Employees can work from home, commute less, and procure higher-quality housing in less-expensive areas as a result, making them happier with a higher discretionary income.