I just left exactly this kind of "Google" environment at the department level. It was just as awful as I'd imagined it would be! It was either too quiet, such that it was extremely awkward to have a phone conversation or even talk to a visitor without feeling like I was disrupting the entire office; OR - it was too noisy for me to concentrate on my work when others were collaborating, having their own visitors, and especially when we opened up our real garage door to expand our seminar room out into the main office for an extra large symposium! I sat at a table of 4, with a 2 foot high removable divider, directly across from my supervisor. There were desks for 24 people, but we only had a staff of ~12. This setup was especially challenging for me because in addition to research administration, I also had to focus on accounting, finance, and HR. Running to the conference rooms at the other end of the office every time I had to make or receive a sensitive call related to HR was awkward and a burden.

My tenured professor/director's advice to me was to use headphones and listen to music like "everyone else." (Our research unit was mostly programmers and designers.) My advice to you is try to avoid this set up at all costs! I found it counter-productive, and then I found another job.

Christina

-----Original Message-----
From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org] On Behalf Of RESADM-L automatic digest system
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2014 12:00 AM
To: xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org
Subject: RESADM-L Digest - 17 Jan 2014 to 18 Jan 2014 (#2014-15)

There is 1 message totaling 148 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

 1. Central Office Floor Plan & Work Environment

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date:    Sat, 18 Jan 2014 12:03:22 -0800
From:    Trish Brock <xxxxxx@CALPOLY.EDU>
Subject: Re: Central Office Floor Plan & Work Environment

We have an office that we all work in, but most of the Analysts, have floating walls that run from ceiling to floor.  Most of those offices have a lot of glass in the wall facing the central office area which is open (but has its own door into the building hallway.

Sound still transmits, especially if someone forgets to close their door, and sound transmits a bit through the "walls", but with an open door policy it does make it easier to have the option to opt-in to overheard ad-hoc training.  The Analysts can still close their doors if they need to, in order to minimize external noise.

Like many solutions, it is not perfect and the quietest are still bothered by the noise sometimes, and one of the staff offices is less likely to overhear ad-hoc meetings.

Trish Brock, CPRA
***************************
Grants Analyst
Grants Development Office
Cal Poly, Bldg 38, Room 152
805-756-1450
***************************

----- Original Message -----
> From: "Marisa Steffers" <xxxxxx@CHPNET.ORG>
> To: xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org
> Sent: Friday, January 17, 2014 8:06:39 PM
> Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Central Office Floor Plan & Work Environment
>
> why do offices preclude collaboration?    we all have our own offices. we all
> keep our doors open. we all collaborate. and when we need quiet, or
> real privacy, we shut our doors.
>
> marisa
> ________________________________________
> From: Research Administration List [xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org]
> On Behalf Of ONeill, Patricia [xxxxxx@UML.EDU]
> Sent: Friday, January 17, 2014 2:16 PM
> To: xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org
> Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Central Office Floor Plan & Work Environment
>
> I used to have a private office and then went to a cubicle. I thought
> I’d hate it, but I actually kind of liked it. There was a lot more
> collaboration with my colleagues. I did not like the lack of phone privacy though.
>
>
> From: Research Administration List
> [mailto:xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org]
> On Behalf Of Mears, Scott E.
> Sent: Friday, January 17, 2014 12:39 PM
> To: xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org
> Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Central Office Floor Plan & Work Environment
>
> Yes...we work in a cubicle farm. Best recommendation I can give is
> prepare with a supply of earplugs.....
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Research Administration List
> [mailto:xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org]
> On Behalf Of Natasha Stark
> Sent: Friday, January 17, 2014 12:02 PM
> To: Mears, Scott E.
> Subject: Central Office Floor Plan & Work Environment
>
> Georgia State University is in the process of moving its central OSPA
> office into new office space with a new floor plan and office configuration.
> Currently each of us has a private office with a door. The new space
> that is being proposed would simulate the now infamous Google open
> environment where there will be 4 people to a cube/space and the
> entire area would be open with little to no privacy.
>
> Does anyone currently work in this type of environment? If so what are
> your experiences? For those who do not work in this type of
> environment what would you perceive as being the pros and cons to
> being in this type of work arrangement?
>
> Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions!
>
>
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