Fixes that Fail: Open Office Plans to Improve Collaboration

Here's a workplace design example of the "Fixes that Fail" archetype:

The Problem

A company struggles with poor communication between departments, slow decision-making, and employees working in isolated silos that hinder innovation and teamwork.

The Quick Fix

Management decides to eliminate private offices and cubicles, creating a large open office space where everyone sits together at shared tables, believing this will naturally increase collaboration and communication.

Initial Success

• Real estate costs decrease significantly with more efficient space utilization
• Physical barriers are removed between departments and hierarchy levels
• Informal conversations increase as people overhear discussions
• Management feels more connected to day-to-day operations through visibility
• Modern, trendy appearance improves company image and recruitment
• Flexibility increases for rearranging teams and workspace configurations

The Unintended Consequences

Within 3-6 months, new problems emerge:

• Constant noise and distractions make focused work nearly impossible
• Productivity plummets as employees struggle to concentrate
• Stress levels rise from lack of privacy and constant surveillance feeling
• Sick days increase due to rapid spread of illnesses in shared space
• Introvert employees suffer particularly from overstimulation and lack of quiet space
• Phone calls become disruptive as private conversations disturb everyone nearby

The Larger Problem Emerges

The open office creates a productivity and well-being crisis:

• Employees wear headphones constantly to block noise, actually reducing collaboration
• Important conversations move to email to avoid disturbing others or being overheard
• Meeting room bookings explode as people seek private spaces for any substantial work
• Talent retention suffers as employees seek jobs with better work environments
• Quality of work declines due to constant interruptions and inability to think deeply
• Collaboration actually decreases as people avoid disturbing colleagues or being disturbed

The Vicious Cycle

Facing productivity problems, management often responds with:

• More rules about noise levels that further restrict natural interaction
• Installing "phone booths" and quiet zones that recreate the privacy they eliminated
• Implementing "focus time" policies where collaboration is discouraged during certain hours
• Adding white noise machines and sound dampening that increase costs
• Creating more meeting rooms that defeat the space efficiency gains
• Mandating collaboration tools to force the interaction that isn't happening naturally

The System Structure

Poor Collaboration → Open Office Design → Apparent Connectivity → Reduced Productivity & Actual Communication → Worse Collaboration → More Open Office "Solutions"

The Root Cause Solution

Improving collaboration might actually involve: - Creating diverse spaces for different types of work (focus, collaboration, casual interaction) - Building psychological safety so people feel comfortable sharing ideas - Establishing clear communication processes and decision-making frameworks - Training managers in collaborative leadership techniques - Designing workflow processes that naturally require cross-department interaction - Respecting individual work styles and providing choice in work environments

This example demonstrates how physically forcing interaction through environmental design can actually destroy the conditions necessary for genuine collaboration, creating a workplace that appears collaborative while systematically undermining the focus and comfort needed for quality teamwork.