3 ms·

I remember reading somewhere that this whole open office space started with startups that couldn't afford cubicles. And because startups were doing it, it becam

I remember reading somewhere that this whole open office space started with startups that couldn't afford cubicles. And because startups were doing it, it became trendy and everyone copied it. Cant remember where I read it, but I have no problem believing it.

varjag 4y ago
Didn't help it was also cheaper.
yieldcrv 4y ago
I mean it became trendy because cubicle farms are depressing cautionary tales of a sea of shattered dreams The cubicle itself has utility, nobody denied that
- carlmr 4y ago
  I still find cubicles super depressing. I don't understand how anyone would want them back.
  - JohnFen 4y ago
    Cubicles are a bit depressing, but (for me) open office plans are worse -- depressing combined with the inability to focus.
senttoschool 4y ago
It became popular because Startups need a lot more collaboration and it’s thought that open offices lead to more collaboration. When the startups became huge and successful, they didn’t go back to cubicles because the open office was what they used when they were having business success. Then all the other companies started copying them because they think it will lead them to be more innovative like the startups.
- Terr_ 4y ago
  > It became popular because Startups need a lot more collaboration and it’s thought that open offices lead to more collaboration. Serious question, how would we measure that, and is there any empirical evidence for the idea startups "need" more? I imagine a lot of it is an immediate workaround for a system nobody wants to bother building, like a mailing list or design-specs.