[JetSetWilly]

I've noticed lots of programmers make unsupported assertions that a quiet workplace is better than a noisy one. But why? Have there been any studies demonstrating higher productivity if programmers have their own office? I don't think so.

We should be suspicious of such claims. Think of von Neumann:

At Princeton he received complaints for regularly playing extremely loud German marching music on his gramophone, which distracted those in neighbouring offices, including Einstein, from their work. Von Neumann did some of his best work blazingly fast in noisy, chaotic environments, and once admonished his wife for preparing a quiet study for him to work in. He never used it, preferring the couple's living room with its TV playing loudly.

It seems to me to be a personal preference only. Some people like noisy and some people don't, there's not necessarily any one correct answer. But folk like Joel and others (usually American where private offices are much more common) constantly push absolute silence and the myth of never being interrupted or distracted, seemingly without much to back it up.

I really prefer an active office close to others. If someone taps me on the shoulder I have no problem continuing my train of thought.

[nbouscal]

Say it is purely personal preference: 50% of people can work well in open offices, and 50% of people cannot. Even if that were the case (which I highly doubt), that would still be a solid argument for closed offices. Why? Because while people who can work well in open offices can easily adjust their closed office to suit their temperament (e.g. by blaring loud German marching music), people who cannot work well in open offices have no recourse. Headphones are the recommended strategy, but in my experience they still lead to a decrease in productivity and are generally uncomfortable when worn for an entire day. Further, they do not block out the visual distractions of people walking back and forth, etc. They also do nothing for the feeling of lack of privacy, which for me personally is one of the most egregious aspects of an open plan office.

I think that among programmers especially, the proportion of people who cannot work at peak productivity in an open plan office is much higher than 50%, but even if it were only 30% that would still be a strong argument for closed offices.

[mark_l_watson]

My Dad, when he was young, worked at the Institute for Advanced Study while von Neumann and Einstein were there. AFAIR, my Dad said that von Neumann tended to work late at night (I am visiting him this weekend and I'll ask about this).

[gallamine]

> If someone taps me on the shoulder I have no problem continuing my train of thought.

This is a huge gift. I, sadly, lack this ability.

[walshemj]

Read Steve McConnell in "rapid development taming wild software schedules" he quotes an IBM study that found a 15% increase in productivity with private offices and that was for all levels of programmers even the less good ones.