1) The head of human resources (along with every other "suit" in the company) has her OWN, ENCLOSED office away from the hoi-polloi; and
2) People who successfully stay home a lot (in order to get some "quiet time," did you catch that?) will have their jobs marked for outsourcing.
Does SmartPlanet get kickbacks from cubicle makers or something? Why is there never a piece discussing how horrid it is to work in an "open office"? There is peer-reviewed research proving that it CUTS productivity.
The office of tomorrow: How design impacts culture
February 27, 2012 | Length: 00:03:05
Santa Cruz based Plantronics, makers of wireless headsets, is giving its aging facilities a complete design overhaul. The company's head of human resources, Pat Wadors, shows SmartPlanet how the new working spaces, in addition to being more tech-friendly, are also starting to create change within the company's culture.
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Posted by dmm99
27th Feb 2012
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Agreement for open offices
Posted by Shogun68
1st Apr 2012
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Posted by dmm99
27th Feb 2012
+1
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Decisions, decisions.
I worked at a MAJOR telecommunications company for about five years, during which time we went from high walls to low walls, then back to high walls and then, to low walls again.
When the walls were high, management convinced themselves that we weren't working. When the walls were low, they decided we were too sociable.
And, at $750 per cube per change that adds up to quite a bit of money. (I was told it cost $750 when I asked to re-arrange my cube for physical health reasons.)
When the walls were high, management convinced themselves that we weren't working. When the walls were low, they decided we were too sociable.
And, at $750 per cube per change that adds up to quite a bit of money. (I was told it cost $750 when I asked to re-arrange my cube for physical health reasons.)
Posted by NotSoTupeloHoney
28th Feb 2012
0
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This is the Office of Tomorrow
I've been writing about the Office of the Future for more than 30 years. There is absolutely nothing new here.
Workers do well in low cubes when there job is about collaborating, not creating independent work (like writing or programming). And if 40% of the workers are telecommuting, it might be an indication that they need to stay home to get any work done.
The Office of Tommorrow is about providing information as you need it and automating mundane tasks, not about whether your cubby wall is low or high.
Workers do well in low cubes when there job is about collaborating, not creating independent work (like writing or programming). And if 40% of the workers are telecommuting, it might be an indication that they need to stay home to get any work done.
The Office of Tommorrow is about providing information as you need it and automating mundane tasks, not about whether your cubby wall is low or high.
Posted by amywohl
13th Mar 2012
0
Votes
Once again
What a load. Nobody, i mean nobody, can be productive in such an environment. This type of office design is used to pack as many bodies into the floor space as possible and for management to easily monitor their employees every move without the expense of surveillance cameras mounted above every desk. What I would really like to see is the difference in their employee turnover rate after this new design was implemented.
Posted by Azathoth
17th Mar 2012
0
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Agreement for open offices
Unlike the negatives created above by the traditionalists, I like the fact that universities are starting to grapple with collaborative efforts. As for the commerical space, I have seen many open offices where productivity has increased as there were people watching and it meant that you really did have to work. As for enclosed partitioned offices, you were more free to do whatever the hell you liked and if you wanted to work it was up to the employer. As for telecommuters, you are free to work your own agenda at home and do the work on the side, there is pros and cons for both at working at home. Productivity is at risk with people working from home. But if there were measures to ensure PRDPs were being met and that a significant amount of productivity could be proven then maybe it is worthwhile. Hope that makes sense??
Posted by Shogun68
1st Apr 2012
Transcript
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>> Sumi Das: Open airy work spaces, daylight shining through from the ceiling above, workers meeting face to face in high-tech rooms and via video conferencing. Welcome to the office of tomorrow, at least according to Santa Cruz based Plantronics, makers of wireless headsets.
>> We created the cooperative work spaces with the glass, so you can see and have the natural light come through. We made the use of color -- the primary colors add vibrancy, add energy. And you could see that sprinkled throughout the work space.
>> Sumi Das: Pat Waters, Plantronics' head of human resources, is spearheading the massive redesign of the company's aging facilities. She says the new spaces, in addition to being more habitable, are starting to create change within the company's culture.
>> The cubes are meant to be open, they're meant to be more transparent, they're meant to encourage collaboration and ease of connection. I want people to talk more, I want them exchange ideas more fluidly.
>> Sumi Das: This is what the old space looked like -- monotone, grey, and high cubes.
>> Looking at the before picture Plantronics, you will see the enclosed space, you won't be able to see far behind you, it's just a long hallway.
>> Sumi Das: Now workers can choose how they want to work, where, and whether to sit or stand at their desk.
>> So if you see over here, we have some folks sitting down, some folks standing up, some might start sitting down and realize, you know, I'm getting antsy, I'm in the throes of creativity, let me stand up a bit and I'll move my desk up and have more visibility that way.
>> Sumi Das: But that's only half the story for this 50-year old company. Plantronics is also encouraging its employees to telecommute. On any given day, 40% of its workforce is plugging in remotely. Employees can Skype or conference in to connect with other colleagues.
>> What we're trying to do is to enable you to work where you need to work. It's not about the office. So I'm teaching leaders how to lead remote teams.
>> Sumi Das: Jen Davis phonetic is one of the employees embracing this change. The Product Manager works three days at the office, and two days remotely.
>> I kind of determine where I'm going to work based upon the work I have to do. So if I kind of need that quiet time, I wouldn't necessarily want to be in the office, I'd do that at home. It's no longer about how many hours are you sitting in a chair in the office. It's all measured now really on what you can produce in a given timeframe. Hit your deadlines, it's great.
>> Sumi Das: Ultimately, Waters believes all the new changes will help the high-tech company both attract new talent, and stay on the cutting edge.
>> They like the vibe of a college university, the student center, the ability to connect anywhere at any time, and do peer-to-peer, and work remotely. So their technology savviness, their awareness of how they collaborate at any time, I need to bend for them.
>> Sumi Das: For Smart Planet, I'm Sumi Das.
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