Pros and Cons of Open Plan Offices

Open plan office environments seem to have become the norm, particularly in tech companies and startups. Their popularity begs the question, do they actually work?

Depends on who you ask, and perhaps what you mean by “work”.

Does an open plan office environment promote collaboration, increase camaraderie among workmates, and provide managers better opportunities to keep an eye on their employees?

In most cases, yes.

But open plan office environments aren’t necessarily any more productive. In fact, the increased numbers of distractions can decrease productivity and, in some cases, may actually have a negative impact on employee morale.

So before you make a decision on your office layout, let’s look at what some important people have said about open plan office designs.

Mark Zuckerberg, about Facebook’s new 430,000 square foot office in Menlo Park, California – “We wanted our space to create the same sense of community and connection among our teams that we try to enable with our services across the world.”

Gensler, design firm – “When focus is compromised in pursuit of collaboration, neither works well.”

Edward Skyler, former New York deputy mayor, about Mayor Bloomberg’s supported open office “bullpen” - “The bullpen really allowed free-flowing communication and efficiency. It eliminated gatekeepers. You didn’t have to make an appointment to see someone.”

Jennifer Veitch, environmental psychologist – “Open offices increase communication, but not all communication is a good thing,”

Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter - “I’m much more accessible this way. People can come right up to me and ask me questions if they need to.”

What are your thoughts on open layout office plans?