BCO 2016: Open-plan offices should be designed for the very different needs of extroverts and introverts, delegates at the BCO conference in Amsterdam heard this week.
Katrina Kostic Samen, managing partner of KKS Strategy, said that choice was crucial for ensuring productivity in open-plan offices.
“Extroverts hate having anything hidden away. They want reception areas in full view, they want to be able to talk, share ideas, discuss thoughts and be loud. They don’t want to be tethered or held down. This is an introvert’s nightmare.
“Introverts like privacy, their own space. They like to be able to choose when to engage. We need to create offices that offer space that will keep both of these groups of people happy.”
She added that open plan is here to stay, but only if if has been properly designed to suit individual needs.
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