Ajay Juneja

# re: I hate cubicles -- how to design a cubicle-less office?@ Tuesday, October 11, 2005 10:09 AM

I think a very open concept makes teams work better together. Of course if you're a small company you might only have one team, but if you have several projects on the go, something like a small group of computers together makes collaboration more effective.

Rather than going the way of offices or cubicles, maybe have a setup where you have lots of desktop space and choose a model where your employees can either sit somewhere permanent (making it "their" space) or just simply plug in and work (works better if everyone is running laptops). A few offices off to the side (for privacy if needed) and maybe one for a meeting room (and conference calls) might work.

Depends on the size of the company of course but I've seen both cube and office setups and your post trigged a thought about doing neither. YMMV.

Bil Simser

# re: I hate cubicles -- how to design a cubicle-less office?@ Tuesday, October 11, 2005 10:55 AM

Oh, I should clarify this, I like offices too, just not cubicle farms.

Ajay Juneja

# re: I hate cubicles -- how to design a cubicle-less office?@ Tuesday, October 11, 2005 3:25 PM

One of the strengths of cubicles is that since they isolate employees from one another, your company can be flexible in reassigning locations, since in theory, each cubicle is just as good as the next.

If you have a more open model, you encourage informal employee collaboration, but you must design your company workspace to limit social problems that may arise.

Zanshin

# re: I hate cubicles -- how to design a cubicle-less office?@ Tuesday, October 11, 2005 4:34 PM

I hate cubicles and open workspaces. I completely buy into the concept that open spaces help collaboration, but there is a time and place for collaboration and a time and place for individual thought.

It's all a big bunch of crap anyways. Every office I have ever seen, they went on and on about the sociology of their cubicles (or lack of) and how much better it was for the team and for collaboration, BUT THE MANAGERS WERE ALWAYS SITTING IN REGULAR COZY OFFICES!!! How come all of this sociology BS doesn't apply to management!? How come they are not forced to work out in the middle of a room or in a cubicle? If they needed to discuss someones salary or do something private, they can go to a private "shared space" like the office workers are expected to do.

As a consultant, I have seen both environments, and the open space offices were horrible to work in. Your constantly bombarded with everyone elses conversations. To think that everyone will collaborate together like a well oiled machine 100% of the time is a pipe-dream. The fact is people spend more time at work than at home, and you will have to deal with listening to Judy call her mom every morning, and Bill getting calls from the principal because his kids didn't show up for school.

In my opinion, an office needs:
1.) Times and places to collaborate
2.) Times and places to think and work quietly.
3.) The ability for some privacy when needed.

Cubicles don't do a whole lot in the way of cutting down on noise, and they demoralize many employees simply because they are a stereotype.

I have heard of one configuration I liked. Basically, the office was split into team sections. Each team section was basically square with offices all around the outer perimeter (real offices). In the middle was a conference table, whiteboard, etc.. where people could go and collaborate.

On a side note, I always hear people going on and on about how you can't give everyone an office - you need cubicles because you can move them around and accommodate people. Never have I seen a company alter their cubicle configuration more than once a year - and then it was only to add or remove a cube to the existing configuration. So what again is the point to cubicles? A little extra money, and real walls could be installed, and office workers could be given back some of the dignity they lost decades ago.

Ron Shelton

# re: I hate cubicles -- how to design a cubicle-less office?@ Thursday, October 13, 2005 1:33 AM

open space offices were horrible to work in. I admit.


I think well desktop and seat can make me work efficient.So I think employer should allocate good work environment for employee.




wzx2855@hotmail.com


I am a programmer and wish to make friends with you .

wzx2855

# re: I hate cubicles -- how to design a cubicle-less office?@ Thursday, October 13, 2005 10:54 AM

- wzx2855 (if that is your real name)

Done! We are now friends.
I am feeling pretty good about it - you?

Can I borrow your car?

Ron Shelton

# re: I hate cubicles -- how to design a cubicle-less office?@ Thursday, October 13, 2005 11:06 AM

What happen to the days of long tables, where you can rub elbows with the person next to you. You can turn to the guy next to you and say "Hey you got sugar for my coffee". There is nothing more about team work than long tables.

Thomas H. Kazinski

Thomas Kazinski

# re: I hate cubicles -- how to design a cubicle-less office?@ Friday, October 21, 2005 7:30 PM

My company is currently trying to design a good setup for office space right now we and are trying to figure out the answer to this question as well.

I have worked in environments that have 2 to an office and it worked pretty well. However, I have also worked for places that have a bunch of teams in one big war room and it wasn't really as effective.

I do like Ron Shelton's idea there about setting up a workspace as well.

Roy

# re: I hate cubicles -- how to design a cubicle-less office?@ Monday, October 31, 2005 9:59 AM

Our company has a philosophy that everyone should have their own office, because it increases productivity and personal dignity. The president (and founder) said that back when he started the company he felt that way and now, 20+ years later and almost 500 employees, he still feels that way. If someone stops by a cube or shared office to chat, or if someone gets a phone call, all work around that person stops. Multiply that time by however many visitors and phone calls, that's lost productivity. We are still pretty social, but having separate offices gives people the chance to close doors or tune everything out when they need to focus. That and I can listen to my music without headphones!

Erica Barnes

# re: I hate cubicles -- how to design a cubicle-less office?@ Wednesday, July 16, 2008 11:45 PM

Just watch Superman and see how the Daily Planet looks.  Hmmm, all the other posts are from 2005.  This may be irrelevant.  Or you just give out a big doh as you already have your cubicle system.

Brian L