As we all know, the open office is the latest design trend. Its aim is to reduce space per person, while promoting mobility and collaboration. However, with the aim of shrinking the space footprint, is there a point when density overtakes productivity? I think there is.

Since its advent in the 1960s, each new iteration of the open office has had its critics. The current 21st century version is no exception. Given all of its well-documented deficiencies, should we dump the open office concept and convert back to private offices as some suggest? Maybe not. A new...

 It’s time again for a few more friendly reminders from Miss Open Office Manners. In this installment, I discuss open office cleanliness, the etiquette of conducting a conference call in the open office, and how the open office can impact the chain of command. Enjoy.

The form and intended function of the modern open plan office has gone through several iterations since its advent in the 1960s. With each new iteration, previous examples have been viewed with scorn. The 21st century version of the open office has not been spared a similar level of contempt. So...

Some people claim that they are excellent multi-taskers. I’m not one of them. I believe multi-tasking is a flawed concept, and is more often an excuse for not devoting proper attention to any one thing. The results of tasks that have been completed while multi-tasking are generally poor. There’s a...