I currently work in an open office space and I enjoy it. I love being able to ask the analyst across from me how s/he goes about doing something without having to get up and peer over a cubicle wall or walk into an office. Bouncing ideas off people and getting an immediate response is great. I could see it being more distracting than a cubicle or a real office. I've never worked in a place with those so I can't compare.
> I could see it being more distracting than a cubicle or a real office.
Exactly. The problem is when the guy beside you is trying to focus. Your ideas bounce off the analyst, but they also bounce off your neighbor whether he likes it or not.
There are technologies that allow you to get immediate responses like instant messengers and email. If you absolutely want an audio or video conversation, a better place for that would be in an isolated area (like an enclosed room) where you won't disturb anyone else.
>I love being able to ask the analyst across from me how s/he goes about doing something without having to get up and peer over a cubicle wall or walk into an office.
Your cartoon doesn't really pertain to this because telling someone they have an e-mail is zero value added. Me asking my neighbor how to forecast something and saving what could be minutes to hours, despite interrupting a train of thought and setting them back a few seconds, definitely does add value.
> Me asking my neighbor how to forecast something and saving what could be minutes to hours, despite interrupting a train of thought and setting them back a few seconds, definitely does add value.
Only if either A, your interruption costs them less time then it saves you, or B you believe your time is more valuable than theirs.
I think its a good idea to establish within a workplace, esp. an open seated workplace, a way of broadcasting the price of interrupting you. Sometimes this is informal with headphones as a sign, other times people make DND signs or lights, etc. Its just much easier when everyone has an office- you can shut your door.
