The Open-Office Trap • Hacker News Board

Re: The Open-Office Trap

#121

Post by fuckpig » Thu, Jan 09, 2014, 7:25 AM UTC

bane wrote: post #21

mrweasel wrote: post #12

This isn't really new, we known about issues regarding open office plan since the 1980s. I think it's mentioned in Peopleware at least. So why is it that companies keep building open office spaces? Are people really so focused on short term savings that they do not care that it will cost more in the long run?

What's really weird is that lots of the new, VC funded startups that should be really progressive about coddling employee needs are building these kinds of offices.

People go to great lengths to try to prove that business isn't business.

And yet all of my experience says: business is business.

If they're catering to employee needs, that's a non-financial benefit to the job that they're trading on. They took something else from somewhere else.

Why does management love open-office plans?

It's easier to see who's doing what and to spot anyone not doing anything important.

We talk a lot about privacy here on HN, but it's sort of taboo to mention that most startups work aggressively to deprive you of any sort of privacy.

Gotta make sure they get their full 8-18 hours a day of you.

Re: The Open-Office Trap

#122

Post by fuckpig » Thu, Jan 09, 2014, 7:29 AM UTC

pasbesoin wrote: post #37

shijie wrote: post #3

Being in my late 20s and having only worked in open-office environments, the thought of having my own office seems archaic and counter-intuitive to productivity and communication. If I have my headphones in, I'm busy. If I don't, I can answer questions or talk to my colleagues about something. Projecting how I would feel in a "closed office" environment, I can honestly say I'd feel trapped and isolated. My experience…

In college, I had a friend who always studied with his music on. He was having a really hard time with chemistry -- or was it bio? -- and was worried that he was not going to make the cut for pre-med. I suggested he try studying without music. After his next test, he sought me out and thanked me. His last score was at least a grade level higher than he had been achieving. He'd always studied to music. He didn't know…

My observations are the same. Especially the significant errors that reveal a superficial approach.

I have another thought to offer:

I love music. There's a reason that when I listen, it is either when doing nothing or doing nothing complex. I want to dedicate my brain to it.

Most people listen to highly repetitive music[1] so this may not apply.

[1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUT5rEU6pqM

Re: The Open-Office Trap

#123

Post by johnward » Thu, Jan 09, 2014, 3:58 PM UTC

Dewie wrote: post #114

johnward wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For some reason everyone in here hears "open office" and thinks "cube farm". There are open offices where you don't even have to privacy of a cube. I work in one. We have groups of 4 desks, two on each side facing each other, with some frosted glass in between. So you basically are in a 'cube' with 4 other people (since two people from the next group over are back to back with you). I worked in cube farm and it's not…

> For some reason everyone in here hears "open office" and thinks "cube farm". Not to be pedantic, but I did mention in my original post that they aren't necessarily the same. :)

It was more of just a general comment that landed here :)