<p>Data showed a 70 per cent reduction in face-to face-interactions when two Fortune 500 companies move from private offices to open plan. Harvard Business School's Ethan Bernstein conducted the research and he explains how he tracked interactions using advanced wearable devices, the phenomena of "the fourth wall" and advises how businesses can actually increase collaboration. Spoiler alert, it doesn't involve office design.</p>

Data showed a 70 per cent reduction in face-to face-interactions when two Fortune 500 companies move from private offices to open plan. Harvard Business School's Ethan Bernstein conducted the research and he explains how he tracked interactions using advanced wearable devices, the phenomena of "the fourth wall" and advises how businesses can actually increase collaboration. Spoiler alert, it doesn't involve office design.

Do open plan offices encourage collaboration? Computer says “no”.

You spend so much time on work, why accept the status quo, when there are ways to do it better? Get expert advice, research and hacks that will crush your inertia.

Join Lisa Leong and other This Working Lifers as we experiment and explore the latest in the world of work.
 

We cover policy issues, like hybrid workplaces and remote work, employee wellbeing and organisational culture, the use of AI, employee surveillance, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion. We talk about progress on wider issues that relate to work, like work life balance, organisational change, restructures, and casualisation. On This Working Life our focus is on everything related to the people in a workplace too, including culture, individual experiences, performance management and career advice.

Business

Careers

You spend so much time on work, why accept the status quo, when there are ways to do it better? Get expert advice, research and hacks that will crush your inertia. Join Lisa Leong and other This Working Lifers as we experiment and explore the latest in the world of work. We cover policy issues, like hybrid workplaces and remote work, employee wellbeing and organisational culture, the use of AI, employee surveillance, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion. We talk about progress on wider issues that relate to work, like work life balance, organisational change, restructures, and casualisation. On This Working Life our focus is on everything related to the people in a workplace too, including culture, individual experiences, performance management and career advice.

You spend so much time on work, why accept the status quo, when there are ways to do it better?&nbsp;Get expert advice, research and hacks that will crush your inertia.

Join Lisa Leong and other This Working Lifers as we experiment and explore the latest in the world of work.
&nbsp;

We cover policy issues, like hybrid workplaces and remote work, employee wellbeing and organisational culture, the use of AI, employee surveillance, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion. We talk about progress on wider issues that relate to work, like work life balance, organisational change, restructures, and casualisation. On This Working Life our focus is on everything related to the people in&nbsp;a workplace too, including culture, individual experiences, performance management and career advice.

Share Do open plan offices encourage collaboration? Computer says “no”.

Sign up to save your podcasts

Do open plan offices encourage collaboration? Computer says “no”.

Do open plan offices encourage collaboration? Computer says “no”.

More shows like This Working Life

Life Matters - Full program podcast

All In The Mind

Health Report - Full program podcast

Conversations

Big Ideas

The Economy, Stupid

Short & Curly

Ladies, We Need To Talk

ABC News Daily

If You're Listening

Unravel

ABC KIDS News Time

How I Work

A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard

Future Women Leadership Series

The Imperfects

this is work

What's That Rash?

Stuff The British Stole

Not Stupid

Quick Smart