…go together like peas and carrots.

I have read a few articles lately from people discussing and describing productive work environements (see Productive Workspaces and The Joel Test: 12 Steps to Better Code, step #8), and our setup here at OpenLogic does not meet any of the criteria (however, the articles do not specifically address collaboratvie work environments, which is what we have). Regardless of our setup not meeting any of the "productive" criteria, I think open, collaborative work environments are great. We deliberately setup an open floor plan to allow and encourage collarboration amongst the engineering team. If anyone has a question, all they need to do is turn around (or not in some cases) and the whole team is available to help. I like having access to everyone on the team if I need it, but I don't like the reality of it when you have people collaborating, shifting around, walking by, talking on the phone, eating, etc., all of which can be very distracting when you are trying to concentrate on a difficult problem.

Joel states in his blog: "There are extensively documented productivity gains provided by giving knowledge workers space, quiet, and privacy," and "We all know that knowledge workers work best by getting into "flow", also known as being "in the zone," where they are fully concentrated on their work and fully tuned out of their environment."  

So how do you balance the pros and cons of the collaborative work environment and the need for developers to get "into the zone" or find "quiet, and privacy?"  Que the noise-cancelling headphones.

Headphones are the keystone in the archway that is the productive collaborative work environment. Without it (them) the whole thing falls down. My office, my private space, my inner sactum within which i get "into the zone", is my noise-cancelling headphones (i have these). When i put them on, the whole office disappears and i can fully concentrate on the task at hand.  Several other people in the office also have headphones and make use of them frequently, which in and of itself helps boost the productivity of the office environment because people with headphones on are usually not making any noise. At least none that i can hear.

So, you can keep your productive work environment criteria (see Stormy's Productive Workspaces entry, "your workspace is 50-75% enclosed by walls or windows") and your office setup (see Joel's 12 Steps, "Now let's move them into separate offices with walls and doors."). I will take my open, collaborative environment, but not without my headphones.

r.