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Yes, managers sit in the circle too. Its not hierarchical, and thats the point - there is nobody in the group with the special privilege of withholding our scr
by mmjaa 7y ago
Yes, managers sit in the circle too. Its not hierarchical, and thats the point - there is nobody in the group with the special privilege of withholding our screens, therefore we all feel comfortable with whatever is on each others screens.
Respect, equalised this way, means we don't care if one of us is doing something non-work related on their system - its accepted, and nobody cares. Its just so much more productive to be able to understand, at a glance, what ones colleagues are up to without them having to worry about having 'privacy issues' in a workplace where really, the work isn't private.
- snazz 7y agoDespite the fact that this system seems unpopular in the average HN reader’s mindset (and I can see why), it also seems like it would select people who are good communicators and encourage good communication and collaboration. I’d be interested to see it play out in practice. Is it stressful to have what effectively amounts to no privacy, or does the collaborative aspect make it seem like everyone is constantly pair-programming with the entire group (which might not be a bad thing at all)? I’d also be interested in my own reaction and whether I’d adjust to that kind of workplace.
- maxxxxx 7y agoThe question is whether it's real collaboration or "Collaboration" with an open office, noise and everybody wearing headphones.
- mmjaa 7y agoIt is not a noisy, open office. Its a circle of desks where people can easily see what each other are working on and collaborate with each other without having to leave ones own desk...
- mmjaa 7y agoWhats missed here is that individuals have the choice to get up and look at each others screens, and people also have the right to communicate whether or not its appropriate for them to be shoulder-surfing. These are choices at the individual level - at the group level, yes: we do select for good communicators and people who can work effectively in a team while not taking personally the issue of utter privacy in their workplace. Which is not to say that members of the team can't have privacy if they really need/want it - just that its expected that they work in a way that keeps others informed about what they're up to and how things are progressing. Its not stressful - that is the point. Nobody has to hide anything because the expectation is that there is nothing to hide - or, if there is something you need to hide (i.e. you have self-doubt about your own competence and don't want to share that doubt with your colleagues), this is supplanted by the expectation that people will help each other if they notice a problem-solving session going on too long. It results, thus, in less stress in the environment, more cooperation/collaboration and a more open level of communication among the team members - and we are more productive as a result of it. Also, we help each other: we don't criticise or degrade someone whose work is inaccessible.
- mesozoic 7y agoLet me just roll over there and watch you read emails about me and the team for a while.