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The inexplicable rise of open floor plans in tech companies

nathanmarz.com

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Re: The inexplicable rise of open floor plans in tech companies

#11

Post by porker »

mmcconnell1618 wrote: post #3

I think the best arrangement is private offices / cubes surrounding a central team area where more interaction can occur. Pixar had a really cool idea where Steve Jobs put all of the bathrooms on one side of the building in a central area so people were forced to bump into each other spontaneously throughout the day but only when they were already interrupted.

This sounds like a great idea, but only ~25% of the 'bumping into each other' could lead to a conversation in this situation...

Only when A & B are both coming out of the bathroom can interaction occur. Otherwise, A is desperate and dashing in, B is wishing she'd not had that curry last night, or both A & B are desperate and not stopping for anyone ;)

Re: The inexplicable rise of open floor plans in tech companies

#12

Post by srimech »

I used to work in a company which had "a culture that enforces a library-like environment on an open floor plan" as indicated (it wasn't a written rule, just the way the culture worked). I found it extremely stressful and depressing, so wasn't working well, and ended up quitting as soon as I could.

I'm now in an open-floor office in which people talk a lot and interrupt me when it's necessary, and I'm a lot happier and more productive.

"Now maybe you're different than me" is probably the most important phrase in there.

Re: The inexplicable rise of open floor plans in tech companies

#13

Post by Goladus »

mmcconnell1618 wrote: post #3

I think the best arrangement is private offices / cubes surrounding a central team area where more interaction can occur. Pixar had a really cool idea where Steve Jobs put all of the bathrooms on one side of the building in a central area so people were forced to bump into each other spontaneously throughout the day but only when they were already interrupted.

Pixar had a really cool idea put all of the bathrooms on one side of the building

I'd be interested to know how much they saved on plumbing costs. That seems to me like an architectural decision driven by financial concerns and sold as a benefit. Not that it isn't a benefit, many of the most interesting designs are a consequence of some practical constraint.

Re: The inexplicable rise of open floor plans in tech companies

#14

Post by mabbo »

zemo wrote: post #8

this is why I wear construction earmuffs at work. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009LI4K/ref=as_li_ss_tl?...

You too? I've got the blue pair. Some of my coworkers don't really get just how much sound they block, and get pissed that I'm not responding to them when they're standing behind me talking to me.

And half the time, I actually can't hear them.

Re: The inexplicable rise of open floor plans in tech companies

#16

Post by mattzito »

I think the issues arise partially on how "open" the open floor plan is. If it's just one big room, poorly designed, it seems like a disaster for productivity. If it's a series of pods or areas, with some effort made to provide space between them, and a healthy amount of huddle rooms or conference areas, I think it can work great.

The trick is to provide enough separation and space that people don't feel claustrophobic, and manage a culture that encourages people to take group conversations into a room if they're going to be loud/passionate.

Re: The inexplicable rise of open floor plans in tech companies

#17

Post by analog31 »

abalone wrote: post #10

Suffers from the same flaw as most critiques of open plan: it focuses on individual productivity while failing to understand how it contributes to team productivity. Cornell did a study of open plan awhile back that you should all read. I posted it here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7507404 The misunderstanding here is that it's just about serendipitously "overhearing" other conversations. 1. Open plan makes…

Interesting point. My concern about item #3 is that we're maximizing personal productivity because the company is still mainly rewarding personal productivity. I work at a company where only one person in each group can get an above-miserable raise every year.

Re: The inexplicable rise of open floor plans in tech companies

#18

Post by cjf4 »

My work has a relatively unique (I think) set up that in my opinion pulls the best of both worlds. Basically, it's a big semi circle of 6-8 half cubes around the manager. So if you are looking straight forward at your computer, there aren't too many distractions. But if you want to talk to a teammate/manager, you just need to pivot your chair 180 degrees. It's a good balance of collaboration/help and concentration.

Re: The inexplicable rise of open floor plans in tech companies

#20

Post by crusso »

abalone wrote: post #10

Suffers from the same flaw as most critiques of open plan: it focuses on individual productivity while failing to understand how it contributes to team productivity. Cornell did a study of open plan awhile back that you should all read. I posted it here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7507404 The misunderstanding here is that it's just about serendipitously "overhearing" other conversations. 1. Open plan makes…

it focuses on individual productivity

This is one of those "beat the drum" issues on HN where we keep seeing article after article trying to drive the same one-sided point home. When I see this as the top article on HN, I just have to wonder if many of the people who come to HN are looking to disrupt the startup community.

I've worked in environments that run the gamut from individual offices, to cubes, to small working group rooms, to large open spaces. I've managed people in all of those environments as well, and I can tell you that openness leads to more synergy and more overall productivity. Maybe one or two in ten people have trouble working in that environment because they're too distracted. Sometimes you need to find hybrid arrangements to give people with trouble focusing a little more space -- but to just blanket claim that it's all about floorspace cost (as this article did) is akin to political advocacy.

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