Thursday, March 28, 2013

The truth about group projects

Funny thing I cam across today on 4chan's Facebook page (see image). It's not always the case I guess, but it's not far from the truth. Also fits in quite nicely with a very lengthy and in-depth article I read on the BBC News website today about open-plan offices.

Do open-plan offices really lend to a more productive atmosphere? Of course there's going to be a lot more discussions and impromptu micro-meetings. But it also means you have to put up with the general office chatter (what someone watched on TV last night, their kids...) and the inescapable loud mouth shouting down the phone every time she picks it up.

I found this bit particularly stark and resonating:

"But the many millions of people working in this kind of open-plan office today know that there is such a thing as too much communication. Proximity to our colleagues makes it easier to have a spontaneous micro-meeting, but it also means we have to sit through their deconstruction of the previous night's TV, or their shouting matches with teenage children over the phone."

Honestly, I don't think the benefit outweighs the cons on this one. But you be the judge.

BBC News article is available here

Source: 4chan (Facebook)

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