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Every time an article like this gets posted, a huge discussion ignites over the "better communication" of open office plans vs. the "less distraction, more focu
by stygiansonic 13y ago
Every time an article like this gets posted, a huge discussion ignites over the "better communication" of open office plans vs. the "less distraction, more focus" of offices. (A microcosm of this is "wear headphones if you need quiet" vs. "Why should I need headphones?")
Anecdotally, the open-office haters seem to outnumber the others.
Personally, (and this has been said before), I think an arrangement where you have private spaces, and a common central space, like a large/long table, would be best. The common space would be great for times when the team needs a lot of communication (i.e. bootstrapping a project) while the private spaces are good for more mundane tasks.
Allow teams to move between the two. Just my speculation, but the real culprit behind the productivity killing seems to be forcing people to work in an environment they don't like.
- jonlucc 13y agoI think you are correct. I'm pretty sure that people prefer each at different times.
- the_watcher 13y agoExactly. I love working in a collaborative space sometimes, and it's really helpful for me sometimes. It's also basically necessary for me to spend at least one day a week entirely in a private room. Luckily that's an option where I work.
- johnbellone 13y agoI agree. Big ole' screen monitors at the private spaces. All employees have a laptop. Makes life so much easier.
- Touche 13y ago> "wear headphones if you need quiet" Headphones provide an alternate type of noise, they don't make things quiet.
- cam_l 13y agofully agree. personally, I think this is an issue only because of cheap, crap architecture. open planning requires careful consideration, not just stuffing in as many seats as possible. look at the work of Herman Hertzberger, for instance..