Should We Dump the Open$-$Plan Office?

Jason is the CEO of an advertising agency with $125$ employees. The agency helps its client develop advertising and marketing themes and place ads in all media including print, the Internet, and mobile apps. Jason is pleased with productivity at the agency, yet he believes with stronger teamwork in all departments, productivity would be enhanced. Jason has read and heard a lot in recent years about the teamwork benefits of an open$-$plan office or an open$-$office space. An online comment made by Mark D$.$ Okerstrom, the chief financial officer $($CFO$)$ of Expedia, particularly impressed him: "Modern tech workers want an office that puts collaboration opportunities front and center."

Requirement: In $200-250$ words, answer the following questions: Back up your answer with what you have learned so far in this course.

How might CEO Jason make better use of office space to promote teamwork?

Identify several rules Jason might introduce that would make the open$-$plan office more conducive to effective teamwork.