How to Manage (or Survive) Open Space Floor Plans

Stacy BaerOHP Spring 2015

The Rise of the Open Plan

• Blame Taylorism (eek, we are the culprits)– Scientific management encouraged routinizing of

work tasks– More easily monitored employees– Lower overhead

• Open plans quickly spread throughout western organizations

“Benefits”

• $$$– Fewer internal walls– Easier heating/cooling– Cheaper furniture– “Increased productivity” due to easier surveillance

of employees• Increased communication– More opportunities for spontaneous conversation– Friendship opportunities

Drawbacks

• Increased noise– Disrupting conversation

• Decreased privacy– Individual need for privacy/control of social interactions– Inability to hold confidential conversations

• More interruptions– Visual, acoustic, and interpersonal

• Increased sickness– Disease can spread more quickly– Absenteeism

HOW TO DESIGN A FLOOR PLAN

Job Tasks as Moderator

Open Plan Task Complexity

Task Performanc

e

When Open Plans are Unavoidable

• Managers– Create and enforce “uninterrupted work time”

policies– Make unused cell office spaces available for

meetings and confidential conversations

When Open Plans are Unavoidable

• Employees– Use nonverbal cues – Use break time for

privacy– Use noise-cancelling

headphones – Use empty rooms for

private conversations

Thank you!