4 ms·

> The fact of the matter is that we have open plan layouts with minimal space per employee (basically a desk plus chair) because of cost. This claim is repeate

by ken 6y ago

> The fact of the matter is that we have open plan layouts with minimal space per employee (basically a desk plus chair) because of cost. This claim is repeated in every HN post about open floor plans. I'm sure there are some cases where it's true (Manhattan!), but in every case where a manager forced me into an open plan layout, I pushed back, and they admitted it wasn't really about the money.

kaybe 6y ago
> they admitted it wasn't really about the money Did they give you an actual reason?
- karatestomp 6y ago
  For startups and other companies that might bring sales/investment prospects through it's the "developer zoo" effect and fear that looking different will turn people off. Add in marketing photos and videos using these as backdrops, now. There also seems to be a huge resistance to giving software developers professional-tier perks or social standing, as with lawyers, doctors, and (to some extent—at least they want/think it to be so, and are insecure over the fact that it's really not) managers, even if their pay (in a handful of major markets) rivals or exceeds those.
ashtonkem 6y ago
Open plan offices started for cost reasons in areas with very high land cost, largely NYC and SF. However it was never stated as a cost cutting measure, instead it was dressed up as a “collaboration” tool. Of course since SF and NYC sets trends, tons of other companies have been cargo culting this layout, since that’s how google does it. Also, most managers don’t actually know what their facility space costs. I don’t.
- morei 6y ago
  This. The vast majority of line managers are very, very far removed from actual costs (and often, actual driving reasons too!). Talk to an actual office space fit-out specialist to get real numbers. They'll tell you that individual offices are much more expensive than cubes.

by ken 6y ago

kaybe 6y ago

> they admitted it wasn't really about the money Did they give you an actual reason?

karatestomp 6y ago
For startups and other companies that might bring sales/investment prospects through it's the "developer zoo" effect and fear that looking different will turn people off. Add in marketing photos and videos using these as backdrops, now. There also seems to be a huge resistance to giving software developers professional-tier perks or social standing, as with lawyers, doctors, and (to some extent—at least they want/think it to be so, and are insecure over the fact that it's really not) managers, even if their pay (in a handful of major markets) rivals or exceeds those.

ashtonkem 6y ago

Open plan offices started for cost reasons in areas with very high land cost, largely NYC and SF. However it was never stated as a cost cutting measure, instead it was dressed up as a “collaboration” tool. Of course since SF and NYC sets trends, tons of other companies have been cargo culting this layout, since that’s how google does it. Also, most managers don’t actually know what their facility space costs. I don’t.

morei 6y ago
This. The vast majority of line managers are very, very far removed from actual costs (and often, actual driving reasons too!). Talk to an actual office space fit-out specialist to get real numbers. They'll tell you that individual offices are much more expensive than cubes.