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The Open Office: Google and the Modern Penitentiary

In: The Design Imperative

Author

Listed:
  • Steven Chen

    (California State University)

Abstract

Firms, such as Google and IDEO, have turned to multipurpose, open office plans to encourage spontaneous employee interactions and creativity. At the outset, these environments seem like play spaces rife with distraction. How does anyone do work here? How do these environments foster discipline and productivity? This chapter challenges the idea that open offices are communal, Zen-like spaces. Rather, the chapter proposes that the reason why open offices work is because they resemble one of the most effective instruments of discipline—the modern-day penitentiary. A prison.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven Chen, 2019. "The Open Office: Google and the Modern Penitentiary," Springer Books, in: The Design Imperative, chapter 7, pages 101-110, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-319-78568-4_7
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-78568-4_7
    as

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