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Re:Ask HN: Why do we still use open floor plans? by AnimalMuppet on Thursday July 14, 2016 @03:42PM (#12096659)
It's a trade-off. Closed offices make deep thinking easier; open floor plans make communication easier. Ideally, you want both, but how do you get it?
Re:Ask HN: Why do we still use open floor plans? by heisenbit on Thursday July 14, 2016 @05:31PM (#12097317)
It makes internal communication and coordination a bit simpler. I feel however open plan offices can make externally directed communication harder.

At times internal coherence of e.g. a planning / architecture team is invaluable. And if such team is embedded in a larger space with related people around it - fantastic.

Most spaces however serve more than one goal. An externally focused organization will want loose coupling to the inside. The last you want to happen is all sales guy jumping on the most promising prospect.

Re:Ask HN: Why do we still use open floor plans? by seeyes on Thursday July 14, 2016 @04:20PM (#12096879)
The "hub and spoke" model that Cal Newport suggests in Deep Work.
Re:Ask HN: Why do we still use open floor plans? by samblr on Thursday July 14, 2016 @05:47PM (#12097419)
True. Although I prefer cubicles any day but communication is hard - 've seen some have this way of treating as if u've invaded private space. I guess for open office - a good noise cancelling headphone which one of my colleague used to use is a need
Re:Ask HN: Why do we still use open floor plans? by tracker1 on Thursday July 14, 2016 @07:05PM (#12097858)
Not even necessarily noise cancelling, if you're playing music, generally the background gets drowned enough.