Are We Too Open?

Has the open plan office had its day?

When they were first introduced, they were seen as being facilitators of communication, interaction and cooperation – bringing disparate groups together.

Now when I see them I think of them as being facilitators of noise and distraction.

It was always the case anyway that some employees found them uncomfortable – exposing and intimidating.

Ia m not saying that they cannot work – only that they should be chosen for those situations where they CAN work – and rejected for situations where they are distractors.

We need more hybrid offices where those that need them can work in private spaces – after all there are other technical means now of improving communication and interaction ….  the office design does not have to do that.