sounds like your open office is working exactly as it is designed, be happy!
your "temporary screen walls" sound a whole like like cubicles (gasp!)
I think the open office concept offers some benefits (other than just being cheap). The #1 is that communication is effortless and transparent. No need to have a meeting to relay what Alice and Bob just decided, because everyone could actively hear. However, not everyone needs or wants to hear everything that happens in the whole company.
Perhaps as a compromise you could have a "music station" where based on some revolving mechanism, each of the employees get a chance to choose the music for the hour/day/whatever. Even if it is bad and some people hate it, as long as it isn't too loud to drown out with headphones, or have a meeting over, then it could be a good thing. Plus music is awesome!
Comments
Open office == increased transparency
sounds like your open office is working exactly as it is designed, be happy!
your "temporary screen walls" sound a whole like like cubicles (gasp!)
I think the open office concept offers some benefits (other than just being cheap). The #1 is that communication is effortless and transparent. No need to have a meeting to relay what Alice and Bob just decided, because everyone could actively hear. However, not everyone needs or wants to hear everything that happens in the whole company.
Perhaps as a compromise you could have a "music station" where based on some revolving mechanism, each of the employees get a chance to choose the music for the hour/day/whatever. Even if it is bad and some people hate it, as long as it isn't too loud to drown out with headphones, or have a meeting over, then it could be a good thing. Plus music is awesome!