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> Sociable upper managerial-types probably value being able to collaborate more easily in open space more than being able to concentrate in private offices. T

> Sociable upper managerial-types probably value being able to collaborate more easily in open space more than being able to concentrate in private offices. This is the opposite of my experience. One thing that shocked me about a move to an open plan office after a life with offices was how stifling to discussion. It's so disruptive to have a conversation at someone's workspace, that to discuss anything nontrivial (or even slightly sensitive) all participants go somewhere else. This greater cost subtly means that people don't really discuss as much. When people do, it's more often in formal meetings (though of course people can go find a whiteboard together for a chat here and there). These meetings tend to fill their timeslots whether they need to or not, a known problem with meetings. Random, "What have you been working on" do not rise to the point of happening as often, since chitchat at someone's desk is disruptive. Obviously this still happens sometimes at people's desks, as well as in shared areas, between activities, etc., but it's decreased. A culture of more regular 1:1s tries to help make up for this, I think, but the formal nature of scheduled 1:1s makes it hard to have the same organic discussions. Even fairly mid-level management (and certainly upper management) and the large open-plan office company I currently work for claims conference rooms 24/7. This is clearly not about the ability to concentrate, but about the increased ability to collaborate.

faizshah 7y ago
So I’m on the fence I like the social aspects of open offices but I find them highly disruptive to work. But one observation I have made is that open offices force me to bring work home. I can sometimes accomplish more coding in one night at home than in 1 week in an open office. One time I kept a log of every 6 mins at work and found that <40% of the time was actually spent coding in an open office vs 95% working at home and communicating over slack (I don‘t think I need to tell anyone here one 8 hour coding session is not equivalent to eight 1 hour sessions). I think do not disturb private desks with open office hot desks or an open office with telecommuting is ideal.
hinkley 7y ago
And the hits just keep coming. Some people are much better at thinking on their feet and out loud (I'm one of them). Ideas are fragile, and if you're trying to verbalize, for the first time, why something bugs you or how you think you fix a problem, and there's a bunch of fast-talkers around you they're going to kill your idea before they even get a chance. I used to meet with these people privately, sort out what really bugged them, poke at their idea and come up with a compromise they'd still accept, then I'd go into meetings and try to out-talk the other fast-talkers. Now you get one shot a day to do that, maybe, if we're both going out to lunch, going together, and don't bring the wrong people along. I've worried sometimes that my soft skills were a little lacking. But I'm finding over time that my soft skills were actually pretty great, they just needed doors.
kraigie 7y ago
If it's that disruptive to chat. Perhaps the extra effort of going elsewhere. Then reduces meetings. As Jeff Bezos says "communication is terrible" Perhaps all that chit chat and meeting time is put to good use instead.

faizshah 7y ago

So I’m on the fence I like the social aspects of open offices but I find them highly disruptive to work. But one observation I have made is that open offices force me to bring work home. I can sometimes accomplish more coding in one night at home than in 1 week in an open office. One time I kept a log of every 6 mins at work and found that <40% of the time was actually spent coding in an open office vs 95% working at home and communicating over slack (I don‘t think I need to tell anyone here one 8 hour coding session is not equivalent to eight 1 hour sessions). I think do not disturb private desks with open office hot desks or an open office with telecommuting is ideal.

hinkley 7y ago

And the hits just keep coming. Some people are much better at thinking on their feet and out loud (I'm one of them). Ideas are fragile, and if you're trying to verbalize, for the first time, why something bugs you or how you think you fix a problem, and there's a bunch of fast-talkers around you they're going to kill your idea before they even get a chance. I used to meet with these people privately, sort out what really bugged them, poke at their idea and come up with a compromise they'd still accept, then I'd go into meetings and try to out-talk the other fast-talkers. Now you get one shot a day to do that, maybe, if we're both going out to lunch, going together, and don't bring the wrong people along. I've worried sometimes that my soft skills were a little lacking. But I'm finding over time that my soft skills were actually pretty great, they just needed doors.

kraigie 7y ago

If it's that disruptive to chat. Perhaps the extra effort of going elsewhere. Then reduces meetings. As Jeff Bezos says "communication is terrible" Perhaps all that chit chat and meeting time is put to good use instead.