I see it less as forced collaboration and more as a vehicle for high frequency interruption, which is a core tool of what I call panic or chaos management. At

I see it less as forced collaboration and more as a vehicle for high frequency interruption, which is a core tool of what I call panic or chaos management. At most places I've been, team management and inter-team cooperation are both so poor that it's pure chaos. Every day there's panic - necessary or otherwise - and the fastest way to put out the current fire is to to storm across the floor and presume to interrupt everyone who might help. Open plan offices work to make this the norm rather than the exception. They're a cover for no improvement to organization or management.