[brightfog]

I don't think it's about open-offices or not: Work environments just don't reflect work anymore.

There isn't any rational reason for knowledge workers to go to an office every day. Socializing and building a cult around a company might be the only reasons. But IDK if these are enough to justify an office.

There must be another solution we aren't aware of yet.

[aedron]

No remote working solution comes close to in-person collaboration, in my opinion. I can explain someone something in probably less than half the time in person than over some electronic link-up.

I'm not sure what it is (lack of body language? Lack of shared physical presence and tools?) or if it can be remedied by better technical solutions (it's possible), but it's the reality right now.

[pavel_lishin]

I agree completely. Maybe the tools we're using at my current job are just shitty, or maybe we as a team aren't very good at communicating, or maybe a combination of all three things - but I definitely feel like we accomplish more when we're physically present on most days.

[brightfog]

Yes and no. You can build great working relationships in the office but also remotely. You can have really bad conflicts in the office but also remotely.

I think the difference is that once you got attached to some people from your work that the motivation to see and talk to them is one key driver to work for the company every day. This attachemnt might develop faster in an office environment.

[gourou]

Nothings beats a white board for explaining something

[brightfog]

Yes true but a missing whiteboard often leads to well executed specs and mockups.

[gourou]

What interactive online tool are you using to explain/come up with a solution to an issue?

[brightfog]

There isn't any dedicated interactive online tool for explaining I am aware of.

The most powerful tool for collaboration and communication though is screen-sharing + your mouse cursor + your voice available in any video calling software.

[AlanSE]

I don't think you can really undersell the cult-building aspect, in addition to the psychological factors, which are heavily intertwined.

Co-working spaces have actually been rather successful in outsourcing these factors - both the cultism and the necessity for human interaction. Not every company needs its own brand of Kool-aid, especially when the cultural attraction of many tech companies is indistinguishable from the industry as a whole. It may be beneficial to have core values that are shared among a cluster of companies, and reap some advantages of scale that brings with it.

[barkingtoad]

corporate told us to call it TEAM-building.

[p-funk]

You can be a knowledge worker and have a job that involves working on physical product / working with equipment you can't take home with you.