[nsxwolf]

I made the mistake of thinking "open plan" meant low-walled cubes. Because I've been working longer than this fad existed. I think we had even used the term back then. I didn't get why people were suddenly whining about them.

Then I saw a real "open plan" office.

Holy shit. Why aren't workers violently revolting?

[Clubber]

Being able to yell across the room while sitting down is more efficient than having to stand up first. Efficient collaberating.

This is a good metric. It's also the only metric we track. Science!

/s

What you are referring to is a "cube farm." Businesses have somehow discovered how to make working conditions worse.

[ThrustVectoring]

Don't forget not having to stand up to wave your hand in my peripheral vision to get my attention for something that the commit messages that introduced the change would have told you about.

I might be a little salty about that one.

[rdiddly]

Ironically, part of the reason for the ascendancy of the open plan, was the popular negative reaction against cubicles. Cubicles were so Dilbert, so 80s/90s IBM/Microsoft/Intel, so "Office Space." OK, maybe they didn't capture the imagination of every special unique snowflake who would've rather been extreme kite-para-heli-wind-surf-skiing. But at least it was a wall. At least it was a space.

[Clubber]

The best method (for maximum sustained productivity) I've experienced is 2 developers to an office. For me, it's actually best if the developers aren't on the same team so they won't often interrupt each other. Either way is better than a cube farm and certainly open office. It's significantly cheaper than an office per developer, but nearly as good.

It's great to collaborate and all, but that should be done at a scheduled time in a scheduled place.

The negatives of open space is why libraries have a STFU rule.

[nsxwolf]

I've had that arrangement before too, and it wasn't bad.

[st3v3r]

Because workers have seen their rights and their station in life vastly eroded over the past 30-40 years.

[nsxwolf]

But seriously, if I ran a company and set up the office that way, and a bunch of people came up to me and said "Hey man, this office layout is bullshit", I'd say OK and get on the phone and order some cubes. It really shouldn't be a big deal.

[WorldMaker]

But you spent a lot of money last year on consultants that hyped you up on the creative and innovative energy that open plans bring and your CFO made a nice spreadsheet on how much you save on office furniture versus the cost of a new yacht. Who are you going to believe, your sunk cost friends or your ongoing cost employees that should be much more grateful to even have a job in this economy?~

[Arizhel]

Cubicles take up more space per employee than a typical open office plan. You won't be able to fit the cubes in there.

Also, cubicle furniture is extremely expensive, so your manager or the company executives will not look kindly at this purchase request. Expect a poor review.