In my experience, exactly the opposite can happen and open-plan offices can discourage a lot of that cross-talk and casual discussion. The last two I've worked

In my experience, exactly the opposite can happen and open-plan offices can discourage a lot of that cross-talk and casual discussion. The last two I've worked in had an almost library-like atmosphere. In a quiet environment, people tend to be discouraged from being the only ones talking and being listened in on, and instead scurry off into the meeting rooms or manager offices. Others put on the headphones and go totally 'heads-down'. Communications end up being more closed and 'formal'.