Open-plan offices, in which employees work in a shared space without walls or private rooms, became popular because they were expected to encourage communication and collaboration. They are also cheaper, since more people can be fitted into the same floor area. However, some studies have challenged the assumption that removing walls leads to more interaction. In one study at two companies, researchers used sensors to record how often employees spoke to each other face to face before and after the move to open-plan offices. Surprisingly, face-to-face conversations decreased after the move, while the number of e-mails and instant messages increased. The researchers suggested that people who feel constantly watched may try to protect their privacy by wearing headphones and communicating electronically instead. This does not mean that all open offices fail. Many organisations now combine open areas with quiet rooms, small meeting spaces and areas for phone calls, allowing employees to choose the environment that best suits each task. The key lesson, according to the researchers, is that office design should be based on how people actually work rather than on assumptions.

Open-plan offices allow more people to be fitted into the same floor area.