There are many articles about negative impact of open space to employees. Open space affects negatively employees’ health and efficiency. Even though companies don’t abandon this concept.
Why does open space still survive?
From an economic point of view, the company would look for the most effective solutions to maximize profit. Abandoning open space and making more of 100% work from home has led to greater business efficiency, as well as a pleasant and healthy experience for employees.
Moving people out of open office to home office would weaken position of employees who are able to present themselves well and usurp results of other, which is basic assumption for successful career in corporate. Because these people usually achieve managerial positions, refusing of home office is sanctified. Their meaning would disappeared after using open space stopped.The company is not managed by owners or shareholders but by managers. They pursue their own interests like any other person on our planet.
Why companies started using open space?
I think the idea was that when a bunch of Sillicon Valley sitting together can produce a great product, the mass of people sitting together can do it too. In practice, however, it does not work. If you look at some of today’s startups, you will see that people work from home and have no problem with it.
When will open space expire?
I guess that in ten years’ time some consultant will come up with a great idea that open space doesn’t work. Consequently, larger companies will also drop this concept.