Open plan offices
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As someone who has an open office that I share with one person. There are times it's awesome other times it sucks. Cross talk when on the phone with clients etc. is pretty annoying and distracting. If you have an office where phone conversations aren't the norm it might work... but quiet is just needed from time to time.
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Open plans suck, especially for introverts. I couldn't stand it so I had them make me a real cube.
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Rackspace's Castle is open and it is super near to look at and horrible to work at. Too much noise and mayhem.
I like private offices with loads of open areas for ad hoc work. A mix is best. Everyone needs to collaborate but everyone needs quiet time to focus too.
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It's like trying to work in the middle of a cocktail party.
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@Nic said:
Open plans suck, especially for introverts. I couldn't stand it so I had them make me a real cube.
That's one of the reasons I left my last job. I'd be trying to bang out some detailed project work and have Nerf darts whizzing by. Cubes are better, but I prefer an office. Some of my best work happens when I'm in an office with low background noise and no windows.
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Joel Spolsky has some good articles on it as well: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/07/30.html
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@Nic said:
It's like trying to work in the middle of a cocktail party.
AKA like working with SAM and PSX.
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I worked in an open desk area when I worked both at Goodwill and for a local MSP. I hated it. It's especially bad when you have to work with others who do not appreciate keeping their work area's organized and clutter free.
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@alexntg said:
@Nic said:
Open plans suck, especially for introverts. I couldn't stand it so I had them make me a real cube.
That's one of the reasons I left my last job. I'd be trying to bang out some detailed project work and have Nerf darts whizzing by. Cubes are better, but I prefer an office. Some of my best work happens when I'm in an office with low background noise and no windows.
Now, there's nothing wrong with Nerf wars, when appropriate though.
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@Bill-Kindle said:
@alexntg said:
@Nic said:
Open plans suck, especially for introverts. I couldn't stand it so I had them make me a real cube.
That's one of the reasons I left my last job. I'd be trying to bang out some detailed project work and have Nerf darts whizzing by. Cubes are better, but I prefer an office. Some of my best work happens when I'm in an office with low background noise and no windows.
Now, there's nothing wrong with Nerf wars, when appropriate though.
That depends on your personality.
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Part of an open plan office is that everyone must get along. You always have personality issues in the work place. Have an open plan office and you really learn more about each other.
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@alexntg said:
@Bill-Kindle said:
@alexntg said:
@Nic said:
Open plans suck, especially for introverts. I couldn't stand it so I had them make me a real cube.
That's one of the reasons I left my last job. I'd be trying to bang out some detailed project work and have Nerf darts whizzing by. Cubes are better, but I prefer an office. Some of my best work happens when I'm in an office with low background noise and no windows.
Now, there's nothing wrong with Nerf wars, when appropriate though.
That depends on your personality.
Agreed.
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I work from home. My office is quite open since we are in the dining room (my desk is against the wall and my wife's is to the left of me facing the other wall), which opens up to the kitchen and the family room. I like working from home when its early in the morning and everyone is sleeping. Later in the day, kids come in and hang out, my wife's friends come over and the talk talk talk and the music, and the TV it can become too much. Looking for a better set of headphones and cord extension.
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@alexntg said:
@Bill-Kindle said:
@alexntg said:
@Nic said:
Open plans suck, especially for introverts. I couldn't stand it so I had them make me a real cube.
That's one of the reasons I left my last job. I'd be trying to bang out some detailed project work and have Nerf darts whizzing by. Cubes are better, but I prefer an office. Some of my best work happens when I'm in an office with low background noise and no windows.
Now, there's nothing wrong with Nerf wars, when appropriate though.
That depends on your personality.
Did no one give you a Nerf gun, sending you into a deep depression and anger ??
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i used to work at a company where their help desk was setup in a noc style where all 6 help desk personnel were sitting side by side in a rounded off U shape. It sucked, when i wanted to listed to music i couldn't, when i needed some quite time because of a migraine that was setting in there was none of that. I had all of 4 linear feet of desk space with dual monitors, so in reality i had no desk space to myself. It was an interesting environment when people starting to disagree with how others were handling given situations.
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@Bill-Kindle said:
@alexntg said:
@Bill-Kindle said:
@alexntg said:
@Nic said:
Open plans suck, especially for introverts. I couldn't stand it so I had them make me a real cube.
That's one of the reasons I left my last job. I'd be trying to bang out some detailed project work and have Nerf darts whizzing by. Cubes are better, but I prefer an office. Some of my best work happens when I'm in an office with low background noise and no windows.
Now, there's nothing wrong with Nerf wars, when appropriate though.
That depends on your personality.
Did no one give you a Nerf gun, sending you into a deep depression and anger ??
only when you are trying to work with a customer on the phone and you are the target of the nerf ambush. Apparently this was their test to see if you could keep it together regardless of your surroundings.
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I'm in a small two person office today but my office mate just brought in a nerf sword and has been throwing it around.
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I get on better than I expected with open plan. Still frustrating some times though, I would give anything to be able to shut off and say no interruptions, but it's impossible.
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@Minion-Queen said:
Part of an open plan office is that everyone must get along.
Indeed. The biggest problem I have is temperature. I like a cold office, preferably with the window open to let in fresh air. Most people, I've found, like a hot office, so in the winter, with the windows closed, and the heating on full, it is like working in a sauna. Certain women like to come to work in the winter in just a skimpy blouse then complain that they're cold. If you're cold then put on a jumper, don't turn the heating up! In these conditions, I find it difficult to stay awake and alert. It's also a breeding ground for cold and flu germs, not to mention being terrible for the environment.
I also have an issue with people who work in a mess and have those furry animals stuck to their monitors and post-it notes stuck everywhere. This may be more of an issue with my own mild OCD tendencies than a weakness of others though.
/rant
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@Carnival-Boy that's very British of you - preferring open air and cooler temps. I'm the same way as is @Dominica but the US attitude is that all buildings should be sealed and all air circulated. It is horrible.
