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This is absurd: "Now every engineer can have their own office." NOT INEVITABLE--EXCESSIVE SPENDING "The new building needs to reflect that we’re a successful

This is absurd: "Now every engineer can have their own office." NOT INEVITABLE--EXCESSIVE SPENDING "The new building needs to reflect that we’re a successful and established company. Lets “do it right” and have a lobby and reception area that projects a professional image." NOT INEVITABLE AND IMPLIES EXCESSIVE SPENDING "Lets get comfortable chairs and great new desks for everyone. None of this used stuff." NOT INEVITABLE, BLATANTLY EXCESSIVE SPENDING "Now we can pick out carpets that look good and feel good and we can have clean walls with great artwork and murals. " ETC "Lets make sure that we have plenty of conference rooms. We need our own cafeteria so employees don’t have to leave the building." ETC

stanleydrew 17y ago
You're missing my point. I definitely agree that excessive spending can be a drain and will affect corporate culture, and you've pointed out some great examples above. But I think what makes this post interesting is the fact that there might be psychological implications to moving into any larger building, even if it doesn't have tons of amenities.
zxcvb 17y ago
Why shouldn't the engineers have new Aeron chairs? Software Engineers spend most of their careers sat down, so you should buy them the best damn chair you can afford, something that supports their bodies and is very comfortable. Look at fogcreek software, they managed to move to AWESOME offices and they are still a lean company hiring great engineers who make great products.
- derefr 17y ago
  They can have comfortable chairs. There is no reason, though, that they have to be new comfortable chairs.
potatolicious 17y ago
On the contrary, I don't believe excessive spending was the problem - it was the fact that they were spending on things that were counterproductive to the company. Your own office? Great on paper, and as the article points out, deadly on productivity. There's nothing wrong with a nice lobby and reception area - it does help get business, and honestly, assuming the author is right about how well they were doing at the time, well justified. Another point to take from the article: your engineers may know what they want, but this may not be the best for either themselves or the company (case in point: your own office).

stanleydrew 17y ago

You're missing my point. I definitely agree that excessive spending can be a drain and will affect corporate culture, and you've pointed out some great examples above. But I think what makes this post interesting is the fact that there might be psychological implications to moving into any larger building, even if it doesn't have tons of amenities.

zxcvb 17y ago

Why shouldn't the engineers have new Aeron chairs? Software Engineers spend most of their careers sat down, so you should buy them the best damn chair you can afford, something that supports their bodies and is very comfortable. Look at fogcreek software, they managed to move to AWESOME offices and they are still a lean company hiring great engineers who make great products.

derefr 17y ago
They can have comfortable chairs. There is no reason, though, that they have to be new comfortable chairs.

potatolicious 17y ago

On the contrary, I don't believe excessive spending was the problem - it was the fact that they were spending on things that were counterproductive to the company. Your own office? Great on paper, and as the article points out, deadly on productivity. There's nothing wrong with a nice lobby and reception area - it does help get business, and honestly, assuming the author is right about how well they were doing at the time, well justified. Another point to take from the article: your engineers may know what they want, but this may not be the best for either themselves or the company (case in point: your own office).