Re open plan offices: many people find them distracting. I doubt they’re a worthwhile cost-saving measure for research-focused orgs; better to have fewer researchers in an environment conducive to deep focus. I could maybe see a business case for them in large orgs where it might be worth sacrificing individual contributors’ focus in exchange for more legibility to management, or where management doesn’t trust workers to stay on task when no one is hovering over their shoulder, but I hope no alignment org is like that. For many people open plan offices are just great, of course, and I think it can be hard for them to grok how distracting they can be for people on the autism spectrum, to pick a not-so-random example. :) But I like the idea of looking for ways to increase efficiency!
It can definitely be worth spending money when there’s a clear case for it improving employee productivity. I will note there are a range of both norms and physical layouts compatible with open-plan, ranging from “everyone screaming at each other and in line of sight” trading floor to “no talking library vibes, desks facing walls with blinders”. We’ve tried to make different open plan spaces zoned with different norms and this has been fairly successful, although I’m sure some people will still be disturbed by even library-style areas and be more productive in a private office.
I’d thought it was a law of nature that quiet norms for open plans don’t actually work; it sounds like you’ve found a way to have your cake and eat it too!
Re open plan offices: many people find them distracting. I doubt they’re a worthwhile cost-saving measure for research-focused orgs; better to have fewer researchers in an environment conducive to deep focus. I could maybe see a business case for them in large orgs where it might be worth sacrificing individual contributors’ focus in exchange for more legibility to management, or where management doesn’t trust workers to stay on task when no one is hovering over their shoulder, but I hope no alignment org is like that. For many people open plan offices are just great, of course, and I think it can be hard for them to grok how distracting they can be for people on the autism spectrum, to pick a not-so-random example. :) But I like the idea of looking for ways to increase efficiency!
It can definitely be worth spending money when there’s a clear case for it improving employee productivity. I will note there are a range of both norms and physical layouts compatible with open-plan, ranging from “everyone screaming at each other and in line of sight” trading floor to “no talking library vibes, desks facing walls with blinders”. We’ve tried to make different open plan spaces zoned with different norms and this has been fairly successful, although I’m sure some people will still be disturbed by even library-style areas and be more productive in a private office.
I’d thought it was a law of nature that quiet norms for open plans don’t actually work; it sounds like you’ve found a way to have your cake and eat it too!